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Paparazzi
Metascore
38 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 18 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 18
  3. Negative: 5 out of 18
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  1. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Rick Kisonak
    60
    This is a film which resonates on a surprising number of levels. But the level on which it undoubtedly works best is the victim-goes-postal-and-takes-the-law-into-his-own-hands level.
  2. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Luke Y. Thompson
    60
    A surprisingly efficient B-grade revenge pic.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Thomas
    60
    It was shrewdly written by Forrest Smith and directed crisply by Paul Abascal (Gibson's onetime hairdresser) for maximum visceral impact upon the susceptible.
  4. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    58
    It doesn't take long for the film to devolve into a ludicrously far-fetched Celebrity Death Wish.
  5. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jack Mathews
    50
    Paparazzi is for anyone who's ever wondered how good it would feel to knock down a photographer with his car and then back over him.
  6. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Megan Lehmann
    50
    A throwback to the kind of '80s action flicks that had titles like "Adrenaline Force," is enlivened by a raft of celebrity cameos, including a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance by Gibson.
  7. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    50
    In essence this is a celebrity revenge fantasy, something few of us can relate to, but director Paul Abascal has the sense to keep the homilies short and the pacing fast.
  8. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    40
    First-time director Paul Abascal brings no style or personality to this B-movie exercise. Except for Farina, the actors go through the paces as if they too lack conviction in the proceedings.
  9. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Robert Abele
    40
    In producer Mel Gibson's second crackpot persecution-complex film of 2004 -- heat-blast directed by first-timer Paul Abascal -- it's obvious who Bo is supposed to represent.
  10. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    40
    Paparazzi follows the vigilante playbook in all its banality, without much in the way of moral reflection.
  11. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Ben Kenigsberg
    40
    Cookie-cutter "Cape Fear" knockoff.
  12. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Dave Kehr
    40
    Amazingly arrogant, immoral film.
  13. Variety
    Reviewed by: Joe Leydon
    40
    Visually uninspired and dramatically overheated, Paparazzi has overall look and feel of generic direct-to-video production.
  14. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    38
    One has the sense that if the level of violence had been ratcheted up a little, Paparazzi might have been more of a guilty pleasure and less of a chore to watch.
  15. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Peter Debruge
    38
    In the age of reality television, Paparazzi feels desperately out-of-touch, the jaded grousings of an industry burnout.
  16. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    30
    This mean-spirited revenge story would once have starred Cole Hauser's father, veteran B-movie psycho Wings Hauser, and played grindhouses and drive-ins. And it would have been a far more entertaining picture.
  17. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    30
    All this would be fine if the script by Forrest Smith had more wit and fewer clichés, or the direction by former makeup artist Abascal had more inventiveness.
  18. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Stephen Cole
    25
    There is no energy here. No sense of movie invention or fun.
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