New This Week
Critics & Publications
Archives: A-Z Index
Advanced Search

Upcoming Release Calendar
Awards & Bests By Year
All-Time High Scores
All-Time Low Scores
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Film In Our Forums

Georgia Rule
Universal Pictures

5.6 based on 29 reviews Read critic reviews How did we calculate this? based on 36 votes Read user comments Rate this movie

FILM:

• Pretty Woman
• Raising Helen
• Runaway Bride
• The Other Sister
• The Princess Diaries
• The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement

• Internet Movie Database
• View The Trailer
• Official Studio Site

MPAA RATING: R for sexual content and some language

Starring Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman, Dermot Mulroney, Cary Elwes, Garrett Hedlund, Hector Elizondo, and Laurie Metcalf

Three generations of top actresses unite in a film from director Garry Marshall about the power of redemption, freedom in forgiveness and unbreakable bonds of motherhood. (Universal)

GENRE(S):	Comedy  |  Drama  |  Romance
WRITTEN BY:	Mark Andrus
DIRECTED BY:	Garry Marshall
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: September 4, 2007  Theatrical: May 11, 2007
RUNNING TIME:	113 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

63

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

Hector Elizondo, who has appeared in all 15 of Marshall's features, turns up as a Basque rancher and adds a bit of sparkle. I just wish Marshall's good luck charm was not a 70-year-old actor but a fresh, honest screenplay.

63

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

The American public likes nothing better than a tragedy with a happy ending, William Dean Howells observed. But Marshall so cautiously downplays the tragic elements of his plot that the sweetness and light left a sour taste in my mouth.

58

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

A clunky family-therapy soaper.

58

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

In the acting contest that ensues, each star comes off reasonably well, though, surprisingly, Lohan (who had well-publicized emotional problems on the set) wins out over Huffman's comic drunk and Fonda's leathery evocation of her father, Henry, in "On Golden Pond."

50

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

Maybe Georgia Rule should be required viewing for Paris Hilton during her term in the slammer. But not for us.

50

The New York Times A.O. Scott

It's an interesting, maddening mess -- not a terrible movie, and by no means a dull one.

42

Christian Science Monitor Peter Rainer

There's enough family dysfunction here to fill out a dozen soppy soap operas.

40

Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek

[Georgia Rule] is clearly intended to be an uplifting multigenerational drama about abuse, healing and forgiveness. Yet there's something unsavory about the way it uses a character's emotional and psychological scars as a gimmick.

40

Film Threat Michael Ferraro

Georgia Rule isn’t serious enough for a drama and not funny enough for a comedy.

40

Village Voice Ella Taylor

There's almost no rescuing this wobbly movie from its showdowns and insights. Except, that is, when Lohan's around.

40

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

Never rings true. It's a dramedy whose blend of melodrama and humor is awkward and incongruous, leaping between the two modes like a fat frog jumping lilypads.

38

TV Guide Ken Fox

Spin it however they like, the troubled but talented Lohan isn't what's wrong with this misbegotten mess.

30

Chicago Reader Staff (Not credited)

Another flabby big-screen sitcom from "Happy Days" creator Garry Marshall.

30

Los Angeles Times Lael Loewenstein

Georgia Rule oscillates clumsily from shock to slapstick to schmaltz. The result of these big tonal swings is a cinematic strikeout.

30

The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen

Proves to be more prone to malfunction than dysfunction.

30

Variety John Anderson

No offense to either of them, but Georgia Rule suggests an Ingmar Bergman script as directed by Jerry Lewis. The subject matter is grim, the relationships are gnarled, the worldview is bleak, and, at any given moment, you suspect someone's going to be hit with a pie.

25

Premiere Glenn Kenny

And so it goes, leaving an awful taste and the inevitable question: Jane Fonda made a comeback to do dreck like this and "Monster-in-Law?"

25

USA Today Claudia Puig

It tries to pass itself off as a film about feistiness, forgiveness and the bonds of motherhood. Instead, it deals lightly and inappropriately with promiscuity, alcoholism, drug abuse, grief and child molestation. Georgia Rule doesn't make you feel good; it makes you queasy.

25

The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps

Garry Marshall has too much confidence that he can match the weighty issues here with the light comedy. He can't. Or at least he can't with this cast.

25

Portland Oregonian M. E. Russell

Fonda, playing grandmother to this clan of narcissists, is the only one who keeps her dignity. She's funny and low-key and deserves better comeback material than this and "Monster-in-Law." The other two actresses are humiliated.

25

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

Georgia Rule is so artificial, it feels like more of a flow chart than a slice of life.

25

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

The film is intended to be light and whimsical, but with a core of sincere emotion. But it's as if the thing were made by Martian anthropologists who assume that human audiences are as twisted as the people onscreen.

25

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Misguided at best and repellent at worst, the movie has, ironically enough, a single asset: Lohan's performance as a rebellious, uncontrollable teen.

16

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

Jane Fonda does an about-face on her persona and her talent, playing a teetotaler and, what's worse, a pious bore.

12

Boston Globe Ty Burr

For proof that some actresses can take on a misconceived role and get out alive, there's Huffman as Lilly.

12

New York Post Kyle Smith

WARNING: Do not take your mom to Georgia Rule unless she's Roseanne Barr. You may expect a three-generational chick flick, but what you get is a child-rape comedy.

10

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

Just what we need least: a warm family comedy about child molestation.That's Georgia Rule, which combines battleship actresses of the "Steel Magnolias" variety, fall-down-go-boom comedy that was obsolete in the '30s, Lindsay Lohan's cleavage and intergenerational fondling just for kicks.

0

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

Director Marshall ( Pretty Woman) has created a comic drama so confused in tone, the actors often seem to be acting in different movies.

0

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

Certain words should be reserved for special occasions. "Abysmal" is one of them, and Georgia Rule is as special as such occasions get.

The average user rating for this movie is 5.6 (out of 10) based on 36 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Miranda gave it an8:
Its tough to comment on a movie like this. I think if you wanted to see it you should although it is by no means what I expected it to be it is good but different. People say Lindsay was by no means identifiable but they may not know how victims of molestation since they were young act, because she actually portrayed it well from my knowledge og the situation. How can felicity huffman be a bad drunk aren't drunks supposed to be bad actors??? huh! anyways I think it was worth watching and maybe to real for "real" Americans as stated in a few previous comments.

J S. gave it a10:
This was a fantastic movie. Do not believe all of this negative hype. It all comes from people expecting the wrong kind of movie. They marketed this as a comedy and while there are funny parts its very dramatic. THIS IS A MUST SEE.

Rev. Rikard gave it a3:
A poor attempt at creating an updated "Ordinary People" style film. However in the Mary Tyler Moore/ Timothy Hutton classic the truth begging for its day in court was not shrouded in a murky story with unbelievable, wooden characters engaged in conversations spiced with stale "American Pie" slices of adolescent humor. Consequently, so many interactions in this film are tasteless. Conrad, Hutton's character in Ordinary People, was not only so believable the audience could identify with his tormented scream for truth to rear its liberating head, we easily recognized that truth. We were mesmerized by its destructive power to slither its way in and through the lives of the entire family. Truth hidden is no longer truth; it is repressed torment. We joined Conrad in pleading for truth to move from the shadows of repressed pain and liberate him. His honest interaction with his therapist revealed conversations that could find expression in the life of every viewer. In Georgia Rule the truth is a tease. "So that's the truth; no, that's the truth!" This is the mental and emotional exercise invoked by this film. This technique works in great mysteries. However, rather than offer us dialogues of substance, Lohan's character attempts to shock everyone with sophomoric sex-sated insults that are intended to shock everyone out of denial. At some point we no longer care about Lohan's character. She is not only a recognizable character from any teen sex movie, she is so unlike most of us we cannot know her. The ultimate insult lies in the fact that the truth lurking beneath this tangle of dysfunctional characters is a serious social/family issue. Toying with an issue laden with horrific pain angered me, and I am sure many viewers. When at last the moment of epiphany comes, we are not sure what has been accomplished, and what this film has said about repressed truth and family life. In Ordinary People, the moment of epiphany was touching and haunting. The great rule in Georgia Rule should be to avoid this formula if one wants to make a relevant film about a serious family issues that impacts culture.

George B. gave it a0:
How could so much fine acting talent be lured into this very junior version of a bad Off-Off-Broadway play? Step onstage from another room, say something, turn around and return off-stage. Adding Hull Idaho added nothing - sorry but its mountain and lake beauty was overwhelmed by this bad production. Looking for a place to go if you don't have air conditioning - think of any other movie first.

Sarah k. gave it a9:
When going to see this movie, I had a completely different idea of how the movie would be. But, it turned out to be really good, and I was really impressed with the plot line, and the acting. I think Lindsey Lohan did a great job, better then expected. There was also a lot of things that allowed you to keep guessing and kept you interested in the movie. A definite go see!

Ashleigh gave it a0:
Awful Awful Awful. Even Jane Fonda's performance (which I thought was good) could make me give this anything but a zero. Maybe I disliked it so much because I feel it was horribly mis-marketed.

Derek gave it a9:
I can see what the reviews mean when they mention the tonal shifts, but this movie is still great. Lindsay is, by far the most underrated young actress to come around in a long time because people get too caught up in her public image. I've been saying it all along, and now she has proved it with a real character, not a sugary Disney one. Although this movie does have its flaws, I can tell you from personal experience that Lohan's performance rings absolutely TRUE. If you've ever met someone like her character in your life, then you know what I am talking about. No, not everyone deals with her character's circumstances the same way.. some people are healthier about it. But her character is a very realistic depiction of the other way that people can go. I do not want to get into it too much and ruin it for those that haven't seen it though.

Read more user comments...

Discuss this movie in our forums