| 83 |
Portland Oregonian
The humor sizzles.
|
| 80 |
Film.com
Drama, swift action, and low-key, character-driven comedy.
|
| 75 |
San Francisco Chronicle
Scores big as a study of small-town life where characters collide and are forced to get along for the good of the community.
|
| 75 |
New York Post
Does offer solid laughs, engaging performances and a captivating setting.
|
| 70 |
The New York Times
An upbeat meat-and-potatoes movie.
|
| 70 |
Film.com
Raucously funny.
|
| 70 |
Dallas Observer
Its loose-limbed sweetness and gruff irreverence are just right.
|
| 63 |
Boston Globe
Individual performances...are flavorful and simpatico.
|
| 63 |
Baltimore Sun
Unwaveringly predictable.
|
| 63 |
Chicago Sun-Times
Could metamorphose into an entertaining sitcom.
|
| 58 |
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Disney seems intent upon overdosing audiences with the little guy proving himself against a seemingly superior force.
|
| 50 |
Variety
Relies on ensemble allure, with mixed results.
|
| 50 |
Chicago Tribune
Has the potential to be much more than it is, especially with the collection of able actors on hand.
|
| 50 |
Los Angeles Times
It is Australian Crowe, a previous non-skater, who gives the film's standout performance.
|
| 50 |
Entertainment Weekly
The enterprise might also be called ''Picket Fences on Ice."
|
| 50 |
Philadelphia Inquirer
Yet another Hollywood serving of everyman pluck, sports division.
|
| 50 |
New York Daily News
Some terrific characters and some of the year's punchiest comic dialogue.
|
| 50 |
Chicago Reader
Nothing's wrong with this movie--the hockey footage is exciting, the characters quirky, the subplots idiosyncratic--but nothing's special about it either.
|
| 50 |
USA Today
If you drop the "c" in hockey you get a perfect description of Mystery, Alaska.
|
| 50 |
Salon.com
Chris Colin
There's no buildup, just emotional peak after emotional peak.
|
| 50 |
Film.com
Crowe gives the kind of thoughtful performance that suggests what Mystery, Alaska could have been if it had stayed in focus.
|
| 50 |
San Francisco Examiner
Edvins Beitiks
Not as predictable as the rest of its ilk.
|
| 40 |
Village Voice
Slack, saccharine script.
|
| 40 |
LA Weekly
Thoroughly mediocre.
|
| 40 |
TV Guide
There are people who eat this kind of thing right up -- if you're one of them, dig in.
|
| 40 |
Washington Post
We know the story will conclude with a crescendo of frozen-north hallelujahs. Cheering is endemic to Disney. They can't help themselves.
|
| 30 |
Austin Chronicle
The bottom line with the film is that there's just no damn mystery about it.
|
| 29 |
Mr. Showbiz
Has its share of small pleasures.
|
| 25 |
Miami Herald
Humdrum hybrid of stale sitcom characters and creaky sports cliches.
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