Opening

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—— Alyce Kills May 24

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—— After Earth May 31
—— Now You See Me May 31
100% The Kings of Summer May 31
89% The East May 31
39 Pounds of Love

39 Pounds of Love (2005)

tomatometer

61

Average Rating: 5.9/10
Reviews Counted: 33
Fresh: 20 | Rotten: 13

39 Pounds of Love is a heart-tugger that often crosses the line between uplifting and sappy.

53

Average Rating: 5.6/10
Critic Reviews: 17
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 8

39 Pounds of Love is a heart-tugger that often crosses the line between uplifting and sappy.

audience

58

liked it
Average Rating: 2.8/5
User Ratings: 3,343

My Rating

Movie Info

Ami Ankilewitz was born a normal child, but he contracted a rare form of muscular dystrophy when quite young and was not expected to live past the age of six. Ankilewitz managed to beat the odds, and at the age of 34, he was alive and living with his disabilities; despite weighing only 39 pounds and having very limited mobility, Ankilewitz worked as a digital animator in Israel, and had fallen in love with Christina, one of the caregivers who looked after him. When Ankilewitz's romance with

Sep 22, 2009

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All Critics (35) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (20) | Rotten (13)

It's not quite on the level of Enron, or even other disability-themed nominees such as Murderball. But with a subject like Ami Ankilewitz, nitpicking seems out of the question.

February 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Denver Post
Denver Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

So inherently poignant, a conservative approach would have been wise.

January 12, 2006 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Stirring, sobering, and manipulative enough to be slightly suspect.

December 10, 2005 Full Review Source: Boston Globe
Boston Globe
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An uplifting documentary.

December 9, 2005 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

39 Pounds of Love is a heavyweight emotional champion. Although deserving such adjectives as lovely, loving and inspiring, the documentary steers clear of cloying excess.

December 8, 2005 Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News
Dallas Morning News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

None of this is intended to detract from the courage and will of Ami Ankilewitz. His life is extraordinary. But he has not been well served by the documentarians.

December 8, 2005 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

If one ignores the excesses, 39 Pounds of Love becomes a road trip worth taking.

March 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Journal International
Film Journal International

This leaves you wanting to know more about Ami, and at the same time feeling a bit cheated that they didn't give you enough.

December 14, 2005 Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com

quietly powerful

December 5, 2005 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com
Filmcritic.com

Ami seems to be very much The Poster Boy for himself, but not for the severely disabled in general, even though this will easily, if erroneously, be read into the film.

December 3, 2005 Full Review Source: culturevulture.net
culturevulture.net

Despite an anticlimactic finale and a flimsy storyline, there are enough endearing moments of hope and redemption here to keep 39 Pounds worth its weight.

December 2, 2005 Full Review Source: E! Online
E! Online

Despite Menkin's clear belief that he's crafted a rousing true-life drama, his film plays like a cliché-ridden, painfully self-conscious Hollywood melodrama about a noble person with disabilities.

December 1, 2005 Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly
L.A. Weekly

Audience Reviews for 39 Pounds of Love

Love it or hate it, you'll never forget it. It is a decision that you really need to make for yourself... See it prepared to laugh and don't forget the kleenex... :fresh:
December 10, 2005
whistletest
Jennifer Jensen
This film made me glad to be alive. Watching Ami overcome his life circumstance made me feel like I could overcome anything. No whimpering allowed!
December 9, 2005
MntMan
Glen Liberty
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Latest News on 39 Pounds of Love

November 16, 2005:
"Penguins," "Murderball," and 13 Other Docs Vie for Oscar Eligibility
Variety's Award Central brings news on the 15 documentary films that have been...

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