Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story Image
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Metascore
80 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.1 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 58 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Jeremy Northam, Steve Coogan
  • Summary: A zesty celebration of storytelling and the life that spills out of it, this film tells two stories: that of an 18th Century Englishman Tristram Shandy (Coogan), and that of the hapless 21st Century filmmakers who are adapting the notoriously unfilmable work "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman," with "Steve Coogan" (COogan) in the title role. (Picturehouse)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    Because their work is so varied, the director Winterbottom and Boyce, his frequent writer, are only now coming into focus as perhaps the most creative team in British film.
  2. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Stephanie Zacharek
    80
    A comedy embedded with secret tips for better, more enjoyable living.
  3. Empire
    Reviewed by: Kim Newman
    80
    A successful mix of literary adaptation, meta-fictional discourse and inside-showbiz comedy. Both funny and clever.
  4. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: David Denby
    40
    Unfortunately, it's also maddeningly repetitive, and dependent on the kind of strained English whimsy that leaves your throat sore from laughter that dies in the glottal region.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 41
  3. Negative: 14 out of 41
  1. JeremyK.
    10
    A phenomenal piece of work. This is the artist's hand steadily at play. A collaborative comedy with an underlying current that reminds us of how much facical our world views and sense of self vs others always leaves us wanting. By embracing a post-modern jester of his time (Sterne) and this wonderful age-old satire - Winterbottom, Boyce, Coggan and crew have done just that - created a blazing re-definition of post-modernism and as much as we hate the cliche --- it is unabashedly "ahead of it's time". As bold and awe-inspiring as the film medium has the potential to be. Brilliant.… Expand
  2. MartinS.
    8
    Steve Coogan is hilarious but Rob Brydon steals the movie.
  3. DanC.
    6
    I know this is supposed to be the height of dry British wit, but I found myself looking at my watch and wishing it were over.
  4. AmeliaS.
    4
    This must be the first film that I found bad while Roger Ebert did not. I expected great British comedy from Tristram Shandy - what I got was a film with only several funny moments that was confusing, repetitive, and ultimately, a film of no consequence. Films should leave a viewer thinking, daydreaming, wondering, wanting to be a better person, or questioning themselves. All I felt at the end of this film was "Thank God it's over!"… Expand

See all 41 User Reviews

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