Game Change: Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Mar 10, 2012
  • Season #: 1
Metascore
74 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 25
  3. Negative: 1 out of 25
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    Mar 6, 2012
    88
    Seeing Game Change is like living again through the campaign of 2008.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Mar 6, 2012
    91
    Jay Roach, who directed the Austin Powers films and won an Emmy for the HBO political drama Recount, knows from parody and keeps his actors from slipping into it.
  3. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    Mar 8, 2012
    100
    A luminous and fully alive portrait by a first-rate actress.
  4. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Feb 29, 2012
    88
    Comparisons to The Iron Lady, a sloppy movie that has Meryl Streep in roaring good form, are inevitable. Is Game Change better? You betcha. [5 Mar 2012, p.41]
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  5. RedEye
    Reviewed by: Curt Wagner
    Mar 9, 2012
    100
    Game Change is less about Palin than it is about this sad state of political affairs....That message made an impression, as did two amazing performances, beginning with Julianne Moore's uncanny and nuanced portrayal of Palin.
  6. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Mar 8, 2012
    100
    Game Change is graced by three extraordinary performances in the leading roles, beginning with Moore's portrayal of Palin, which is both complex and entirely credible.
  7. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Mar 8, 2012
    91
    In the end, fans of well-paced political potboilers will find much to like about Game Change. As will those who simply want to be entertained by a crackling good melodrama.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 41 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 3 out of 13
  1. eTurkey
    7
    You don't have to be a political junkie in order to enjoy the the trials and tribulations of the movie 'Game Change' based on the book 'Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime'. The star of the show is unsurprisingly Sarah Palin who is brilliantly portrayed in this film by Julieanne Moore. Kudos must also be awarded to Ed Harris who provides a revealing and honest depiction of John McCain. Although this piece was based on actual events I would have preferred more unseen material to be shown.… Full Review »
  2. NoahCoward
    3
    I don't know why the critics are so soft on mediocre productions like this . Could be that because everyone kind of likes Julianna Moore, Woody Harrelson, and Ed Harris, there's an inclination to cut them a break. To me, the movie is just a cartoon with actors we can recognize impersonating real world characters and superficially portraying events we all know about but not necessarily illuminating them. It fun to remember the campaign and how shockingly unprepared Sarah Palin was to assume national office. Moore is OK as Palin, Harris is lame as McCain. Harrelson was fun as Steve Schmidt. The Nicole Wallace character is likeable. But most of the other characters were pretty weak. The Todd Palin character was pathetic. He looked nothing like the real one and didn't act like him either. Seems like they grabbed someone off the street and just asked him to stand there. This is one of those movies that suck and get lots of award nominations.… Full Review »
  3. pookiepoo
    7
    The actors aping the real world Palin and McCain are quite good, but they can't save this bland retelling of events most of us already know. Moore's portrayal is more of an imitation than a character study, and a big part of the blame goes to the script, which removes a good deal of depth from her character (as well as some of the bite and grit from Harris's McCain). Sarah might be dumb, and she may be crazy as the film suggests, but she's not completely without self-awareness, and that's what the movie character lacks. The film slightly veers towards being a dark comedy, and would have been better off taking that route all the way. The book is worth a read. I hope "Season 2" turns out better, metacritic.… Full Review »
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