Special Correspondents

Name: Special Correspondents
Genre: Comedy
Released: April 29, 2016
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 36

2016

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 14 Critics

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Ratings

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5.3

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5.3	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

TV-MA

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): April 29, 2016

Summary: A radio journalist and his technician get in over their heads when they hatch a scheme to fake their own kidnapping during a rebel uprising in South America and hide out in New York instead.

Director: Ricky Gervais

Genre(s): Comedy

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 101 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

New York Daily News - Edward Douglas

Apr 28, 2016

Some viewers may be surprised by how good Bana is doing comedy. Same with Farmiga, but that allows Gervais to leave some of the heavier lifting as far as acting to his co-stars. Gervais has again done a solid job writing and directing his own material. Read full review

Screen International - Graham Fuller

Apr 25, 2016

Perversely pleasurable, it works on its own self-conscious terms, though not all audiences will appreciate its English brand of sad-sack humour. Read full review

Consequence of Sound - Nico Lang

May 3, 2016

As a comedian, Gervais hardly lacks a sharp perspective. The Office showed him to be a merciless satirist of workplace culture. But when it comes to international politics, the comedian lacks the keen insight to say anything that hasn’t already been said by other filmmakers. Read full review

Variety - Nick Schager

Apr 22, 2016

Gervais’ tale is primarily consumed with middle-of-the-road squabbling between its headliners, whose yin-yang chemistry never results in more than a few chuckle-worthy bon mots. Read full review

RogerEbert.com - Brian Tallerico

Apr 29, 2016

One of those increasingly depressing affairs, like watching air come out of a balloon. You start to feel bad for everyone involved, even the man responsible for it all, Ricky Gervais. Read full review

Slant Magazine - Chuck Bowen

Apr 27, 2016

Ricky Gervais's film hopscotches through a variety of premises, looking for jokes that never arrive. Read full review

Movie Nation - Roger Moore

May 3, 2016

Gervais fakes caring about character, jokes or doing the work to make Special Correspondents come off. He’s never made a worse film. And topping that, he’s never made a lazier one. Read full review

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User Reviews

Peadar123

May 2, 2016

Possibly not his finest hour but entertaining nonetheless. It is honest and most importantly unfocus-grouped. Although characters drift a little too much and lose some credibility because of it, thatt does not justify the negative vibes it is getting . However , would the main characterPossibly not his finest hour but entertaining nonetheless. It is honest and most importantly unfocus-grouped. Although characters drift a little too much and lose some credibility because of it, thatt does not justify the negative vibes it is getting . However , would the main character have had a wife like he had Probably not. Could anyone live with the insults he was hit with by the co star? even a meek character? I dunno ...you could also ask , would licking coke off a piece of paper have enabled him to shoot up a compound of baddies? It's a spoof comedy for God's sake!!! There are probably quite a few people who don't like him anymore because he insulted their icons at the Golden Globes. He understands what makes comedy not just laughs as in junk like Third Rock from the Sun where every line is focus grouped for laughs.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

gatts_77

May 2, 2016

It was not great by any means, but entertaining enough to stick with it till the end, definitely a good thing that considering the short attention span you may grow with so much stuff available on streaming, Bana funny, Farmiga funny, Gervais ok, overall history meh-ok, thats a 7 from me

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

adpirtle

May 28, 2016

Not a bad film, but not one I'd expect to win any awards. Just another workmanlike effort from writer/director Gervais. A decent way to spend an otherwise boring afternoon.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

intruder313

Apr 29, 2016

It's a pretty good, light-hearted film but it's just not funny. I think I smirked twice: once at the only joke shown in the trailers and then the reversal of that joke.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

KaptenVideo

Sep 2, 2017

It’s a Netflix-produced project written and directed by legendary comedy mastermind Ricky Gervais, who also stars alongside Eric Bana.
A radio journalist (Bana) and his technician (Gervais) fake their own kidnapping during a rebel uprising in Ecuador and try to hide out in New York instead.It’s a Netflix-produced project written and directed by legendary comedy mastermind Ricky Gervais, who also stars alongside Eric Bana.
A radio journalist (Bana) and his technician (Gervais) fake their own kidnapping during a rebel uprising in Ecuador and try to hide out in New York instead. Also appearing: Vera Farmiga, Kelly Macdonald, Kevin Pollak, America Ferrera, Raúl Castillo, Benjamin Bratt et al.
Like most of Gervais’s movies, it’s not as sharp and funny as his famous for based on his other works (TV series, standup, podcasts etc). Sadly, it’s also nearly not as mainstream friendly as most of his movies which have at least some memorable LOL moments.
It’s based on a decent idea and the screenplay is competent, but the humor is rather dry and intellectual, making one go „I see what they did here“ rather than really enjoying the show.
The satirical pokes about the authenticity of modern media business and the worthiness of the stars it creates gives the story at least some extra depth, even if you won't remember it the next morning.
Dialogue and acting are competent, too, but we spend most of the time in the company of two men with no palpable chemistry – just doing their work and being professional about it.
Always solid Vera Farmiga gives a more juicier performance as a technician’s villainous wife but she can’t conquer the overall dryness of it all, either.
The movie also looks cheap, which is not a problem in itself because the small budget sets its limits. But I have to say it’s overall one of the less exciting Gervais projects I’ve seen. Sorry.
At least it doesn’t go on for too long, although at 101 minutes it’s not exactly short either. And yes, disappointing Gervais is still better than no Gervais at all.
IMDb says it's a remake of 2009's French comedy "Envoyés très spéciaux". Both have mediocre user rating but the newer version has a bit higher score (5.8 vs 5.3 out of 10).… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Feb 6, 2018

A film for Netflix that you can enjoy on a Sunday with nothing better to see and without doubt if you are a fan of Gervais.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

frankcastle2

Apr 29, 2016

I the man with a plan Gervais delivers yet another vehicle for his acting ability or therein lack of. Yes he's ok, yes this is ok. the plots ok. the cinematography is ok, everything is a ok. solid 4/10 if someone else was Gervais character. WHY DO EVERYTHING AGAIN? DIDN'T WORK LAST TIME DIDI the man with a plan Gervais delivers yet another vehicle for his acting ability or therein lack of. Yes he's ok, yes this is ok. the plots ok. the cinematography is ok, everything is a ok. solid 4/10 if someone else was Gervais character. WHY DO EVERYTHING AGAIN? DIDN'T WORK LAST TIME DID IT. Stephen Merchant has more talent in his middle finger than Gervais can muster in this ok film, which was just ok.… Expand

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

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