24: Redemption

New York PostLinda Stasi

A two-hour movie that is good enough to stand alone - but one that actually leads us into season seven. And I loved every minute of it.

Hollywood ReporterBarry Garron

In nearly every respect, 24: Redemption makes perfect sense, a brilliant idea that will extend the life of an important franchise even as it pumps new vigor into the Fox series.

The New York TimesAlessandra Stanley

Redemption is a more sober, stripped-down version of “24,” and that’s refreshing.

TV GuideMatt Roush

A riveting two-hour prequel to January's seventh season is a shot of pure adrenaline and deluxe action filmmaking

VarietyBrian Lowry

This prequel to "Day Seven" benefits not only from the change of venue but also from the luxury of incorporating so many first-rate actors.

Los Angeles TimesMary McNamara

Redemption, a bridge to next season, which begins Jan. 11, nukes those criticisms [of season six]. With a narrative that is ambitious and gut-wrenching even by "24" standards.

New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley

It advances Jack's story, bridging the complicated past to an equally complicated future, and at the same time it could pass as a two-hour action-adventure movie standing all by itself.

Washington PostPaul Farhi

Redemption is a gripping and satisfying tale in its own right, and nicely sets up what's likely to come when the series finally returns in a few weeks after an 18-month absence.

USA TodayRobert Bianco

As a film, it ranks as one of the year's best, admittedly against thin competition. As a 24 episode, however, it's just a tad less enticing.

Philadelphia InquirerJonathan Storm

He has not lost his mojo in the off-season.

Baltimore SunDavid Zurawik

But as entertaining and compelling as the production is, it never achieves that highly energized, tingle-up-the-spine sense of being perfectly in tune with the time.

Entertainment WeeklyGillian Flynn

Redemption does set some nice, bouncy balls rolling for January.

NewsdayVerne Gay

It feels like television. Not bad. Not great. It's talky and placidly paced for 24.

Philadelphia Daily NewsEllen Gray

On the down side, there's less time for the delightful distractions of the caustic Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub), who hasn't followed Jack to Africa, or for anyone else, really, who might have survived the carnage of recent seasons.

Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob Owen

Redemption is pretty typical "24" fodder as Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) tries to help the helpless in Africa as an uprising by a would-be dictator sweeps waves of children into his army.

Orlando SentinelHal Boedeker

Redemption looks like the start of something promising.

PopMattersCynthia Fuchs

Surrounded by chaos at the embassy gate, Jack and these frightened children become an oasis of narrative structure, granting viewers someone to root for—against the warlords and the Americans and U.N. soldiers who don’t see them as important, or don’t see them at all.

SalonHeather Havrilesky

Ultimately, 24: Redemption feels like a quickie, condensed version of "24," racing through all of the crucial elements of the show: a heartless foreign enemy, a looming conspiracy, children in danger, an impossible ethical dilemma and a heaping helping of sacrifice by Mr. Bauer himself.

New York MagazineEmily Nussbaum

It’s not impossible to imagine 24 as a thought-provoking, if surrealistic, investigation of the risks of presidential idealism. But Jack will always block real greatness.

San Francisco ChronicleTim Goodman

As for the Redemption prequel, it's kind of "24" lite.

TimeJames Poniewozik

At best, it's a tantalyzing but skippable promo for the season that begins in January. But 24 has not redeemed itself yet.

Chicago Sun-TimesLloyd Sachs

A scenic but plodding and predictable throat-clearing exercise largely shot in South Africa.

Newark Star-LedgerAlan Sepinwall

If 24: Redemption is supposed to remind us why we missed the most tireless man in primetime--or, at least, to make us forget how awful season six was--it does a very lackluster job.

Chicago TribuneMaureen Ryan

As was the case with Season 6 of the Kiefer Sutherland vehicle, this standalone movie feels as though it was assembled from a laundry list of familiar 24 elements.

Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert

When does a rogue hero become a tired joke? Based on this un-fun movie, I would say yesterday.