Whole New Thing
Metascore
54 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11
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  1. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    75
    Like a Canadian "Six Feet Under," the indie dramedy Whole New Thing mixes characters (teen and adult, gay and straight, married and single) who seem both completely plausible and capable of anything.
  2. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    75
    Interestingly, the real heart of the film is in the finely drawn adult characters.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Noel Murray
    75
    Develops its story slowly and carefully, nearly always opting for the plausible over the sensational.
  4. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Thomas
    60
    More satisfying than not, and it plays out credibly.
  5. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    60
    This movie is a more conventional, but also more believable, exploration of the potential cost of thumbing your nose at society.
  6. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Albert Williams
    60
    The film features subtle, honest performances by Daniel MacIvor (who also cowrote the screenplay) as the perplexed prof and engaging newcomer Aaron Webber as the sensitive student.
  7. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jack Mathews
    50
    Slight Canadian coming-of-age drama.
  8. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    50
    Whole New Thing comes unglued toward the end, spiraling into melodrama without ever escaping its whiny, indie-rock soundtrack.
  9. Variety
    Reviewed by: Dennis Harvey
    50
    "Thing" suffers the familiar curse of Canadian seriocomedy -- just nice enough in content and stylistically like a telepic.
  10. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Phil Hall
    30
    The one lesson learned from watching this film is that Canadians can make movies just as badly as anyone else.
  11. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Rob Nelson
    30
    Half-new at most, this "Running With Scissors"–type tale of a precocious, effeminate teen who gets hot for teacher while prepping for a life in the arts isn't evidently autobiographical. Neither is it funny--or poignant or insightful or remotely worth one's time.

User Reviews

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User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 3 more ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. JayH.
    7
    Simply made and very well written and acted. The direction by Amnon Buchbinder is very sensitive and quite well handled. I liked the score a lot, it fit the film well. Touchingly made.… Full Review »