Very Bad Things
User Score
5.8 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 21
  3. Negative: 7 out of 21

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  1. RobertB.
    Oct 4, 2009
    10
    One of my favourite movies of all time: Dying was never so funny!
  2. Gnarles
    Oct 20, 2005
    9
    It's a near-classic - as long as you have the guts to watch it on its own terms and resist the urge to twist and contort it into something else. The lesser critics who beat this up for its "nihilism" and "grossness" appear to be painfully unaware that their line of inflated, pompous thinking is the real thing being ripped to pieces in "Very Bad Things". Or maybe they DO realize it, and their dumb reviews are their protection. At any rate, it took major guts to craft a movie like this and I admire Berg for having them. Doesn't always work, but there are two amazing scenes for every bad one. Slater is sensational, a pitch-perfect parody of male self-help postivite thinking gone terribly wrong. Too bad it's so far been his last good performance. See Very Bad Things. Don't judge. Just watch.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
31 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 24 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 24
  3. Negative: 12 out of 24
  1. The New Republic
    Reviewed by: Stanley Kauffmann
    50
    The writer of Very Bad Things has done poorly by the director. This is particularly painful because they are the same person, Peter Berg. Director Berg shows lively talent, focused and controlled. Writer Berg shows some talent, too, but he is wobbly in design and purpose. [14 December 1998, p.26]
  2. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Schickel
    70
    Cameron Diaz is sublimely screwy as the single-minded bride determined not to let anything--including the deadly mishaps that keep shrinking the wedding party--spoil her nuptials. [30 November 1998, p. 111]
  3. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Lisa Alspector
    30
    As the characters behave with symbolic excess in situations designed to provoke their bigotry and self-interest, superficial black comedy periodically gives way to painful drama.
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