Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 40 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 57 Ratings

  • Starring: Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas, Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan
  • Summary: Calvin is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing – as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby, in the flesh, sitting on his cocouch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person. (Fox Searchlight) Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 40
  2. Negative: 1 out of 40
  1. Reviewed by: Katie Walsh
    Jul 23, 2012
    91
    Ruby Sparks hits that sweet emotional spot much in the same way "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" does. While you are at once charmed by the whimsy and romance, there's still a gut punch of emotional rawness just waiting to be delivered.
  2. Reviewed by: Peter Bradshaw
    Oct 12, 2012
    80
    Kazan brings to the role a sweet and dignified vulnerability, keeping rigorously to plausible human behaviour.
  3. Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    Jul 25, 2012
    60
    It often feels as if the filmmakers expect us to be equally seduced by Ruby's wide-eyed winsomeness. That's a shame, as we can sense the deeper film beneath the surface. Because Ruby remains conceptual, this ambitious project lacks the dimension of the similarly meta-minded Charlie Kaufman projects that apparently inspired it.
  4. Reviewed by: Rex Reed
    Jul 24, 2012
    25
    The script is breezy, but neither of the two leads have the heft or charm to carry an entire feature-length film - separately or together.

See all 40 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Likely won't receive Oscar attention, but this film deserves it. Kazan's script tears apart the unrealistic male fantasy of the manic pixie dream girl by bringing the cliche to life in an offbeat, yet dark, comedy with interesting messages about the nature of adult relationships. There may not be a better script in all of 2012. Expand
  2. Fantastic Movie.
  3. This is a good film but not ''great''. Its an interesting idea and it comes off well .I give it a 7.5 and i'm kind if reluctant to give it 8 as opposed to a 7 but will. Expand
  4. I loved Little Miss Sunshine thinking this movie should be good since it's from the same director and I was right! This movie is superbly acted, with a great cast and fun storyline. Not the greatest film ever but it was pretty good. Expand

See all 18 User Reviews

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