Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Rocket Science
Rocket Science Image
Metascore
73 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Starring: Anna Kendrick, Reece Thompson
  • Summary: A teenager tackles the mysteries of life, love and public speaking in Rocket Science, a wry comedy of adolescent angst. Life is not easy for teenager Hal Hefner. His parents have split, his older brother is an obsessive-compulsive and he has an unpredictable stutter. Given that his active mind and quick wit tend to be obscured by his problematic voice, Hal is not an obvious candidate for his school's high-powered debate team. So when the star of debate team, Ginny Ryerson, asks him to be her partner, Hal rises to the occasion, and in doing so he scores a victory that has nothing to do with winning a debate, but everything to do with finding his voice. (Picturehouse Entertainment)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: M. E. Russell
    91
    A dry, vicious and deeply moving little comedy that sort of takes the structure of a teen sports movie, then undermines that structure at every turn.
  2. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    91
    Fresh, funny and unfailingly observant, Rocket Science is a mood-swinging movie about adolescence that lifts audiences' spirits even when its hero is down in the dumps.
  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Jim Ridley
    60
    Once Rocket Science enters the realm of the debate competition, the director's eye for detail never deserts him.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 3 out of 8
  1. NoraL
    10
    An unexpected little gem of a movie. didn't know what to expect but..... wow. there is much to recommend here. wonderful performances all around from a young cast and dialogue that is natural but so so funny and sharp. kudos!!… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. MichaelE.
    5
    Today I saw Rocket Science, or, as I have cleverly dubbbed it, Rushless. Weird high school kid with goofy haircut and emotional problems who has a crush on an unapproachable girl? Check. Flat low angle shots of banal locations? Check. Annoying, self-consciously hip music score? Check. (I mean, "The Blob" by Bacharach+David on accordion and mini-choir? Ugh. And the Femmes on piano+cello played by old people? Even worse) Tons of irony, with just a little touch of heart at the end so we'll feel like we've seen something? Check. Bursts of stupid violence that have nothing to do with anything? Check. Juvenile angst and ennui presented as cute? Check. The director certainly has the Wes Anderson playbook down pat, but not much else.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. JohnS.
    3
    Poor, boring.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 8 User Reviews