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The Chumscrubber
Metascore
41 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 12
  3. Negative: 4 out of 12
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  1. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    100
    At once dreamily surreal, acutely intelligent, and strikingly tough-minded, this pitch-dark dramatic comedy recalls David Lynch and "Donnie Darko" while remaining fresh and original to its core. A stunning directorial debut.
  2. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Shawn Levy
    75
    A frustrating combination of inspiration and routine, acuity and dullness, originality and fashion. Part web-of-life indie film, part troubled teen drama, part suburban satire, part comic book fantasy, it vacillates between the engaging and the silly, buoyed by energetic performances but pulled underwater by self-satisfied writing and direction.
  3. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Luke Y. Thompson
    60
    Either a bit more humor or a bit more heart could exponentially improve things.
  4. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Carina Chocano
    60
    Every adult in the movie is a caricature: Close, Janney and Wilson are compendiums of such broad, unattractive traits they make the ladies of "Desperate Housewives" look complex. The men, meanwhile, are weak, clueless and preening, with the exception of Fiennes, who's nuts.
  5. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Jeremy Mathews
    50
    A series of pretentious social commentary punctuated by windows of excellence that only make it more frustrating.
  6. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Kimberley Jones
    50
    It's a Big Idea movie that comes out only half-baked.
  7. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Sean Axmaker
    42
    The few genuine moments of connection -- are as refreshing as they are out of place. They only highlight how false and affected the rest of the film is.
  8. Empire
    Reviewed by: Olly Richards
    40
    A tragic waste of acting talent, with nothing new to say. Can we please now politely close the door on middle-class repression before we get really angry?
  9. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    30
    The resulting film is an example of how a film with camera and acting skills in its corner can still fall flat on its face.
  10. Variety
    Reviewed by: Scott Foundas
    30
    An insufferable, self-conscious cult movie, The Chumscrubber smugly heaps on half-baked ideas about media violence, the homogeneity of suburbia and the disintegration of the American family.
  11. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    25
    An appallingly clumsy and stupid take on drugs, kidnapping and suicide in suburbia.
  12. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Scott Foundas
    20
    Shrill, smug would-be satire.
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User Reviews

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User Score
5.5 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 25 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 9 out of 19
  1. yogibbear
    5
    Average. It has its moments, but I wouldn't watch this more than once and even then it was just to see what it was all about. This has be done before, and better in every way in a multitude of movies. Movealong. However, if you like the genre, watch this movie to realise why the other movies like this are true stand outs whereas this is just average. Enjoyable at times, some good acting (mixed amongst some bad acting), pretty good soundtrack, OK storyline, but at the end of the day it's completely unmemorable. As others have said, Donnie Darko/American Beauty/The Breakfast Club/etc. have done this before and a million times better.… Full Review »
  2. RobA
    5
    Its not a great movie, but there is worse. Horrible title.It is of course very cliche. Ralph Fiennes is ridiculously awful. Its tone is very scattered. The wasted potential only makes it worse.The video game angle is over the top. Thats the real problem....it can go from over the top to understated in seconds, which makes it muddled and draining.… Full Review »
  3. NikkiL
    10
    What an amazing movie! much, much better than Donnie Darko. Such an interesting cast, it had alot to say about parent's ignorance of their children's lives. If I had one gripe about this movie is that it loses direction every so often.… Full Review »
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