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Eagle vs. Shark

Eagle vs. Shark (2007)

tomatometer

53

Average Rating: 5.6/10
Reviews Counted: 105
Fresh: 56 | Rotten: 49

Though there are frequent moments of wit and mordant humor, Eagle vs Shark needs more to distinguish itself from other precious, Napoleon Dynamite-ish comedies.

48

Average Rating: 5.5/10
Critic Reviews: 27
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 14

Though there are frequent moments of wit and mordant humor, Eagle vs Shark needs more to distinguish itself from other precious, Napoleon Dynamite-ish comedies.

audience

67

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 37,373

My Rating

Movie Info

Two lonely misfits embark on a bizarre journey of romance and revenge after bonding at a "come as your favorite animal" costume party in Academy Award nominee Taika Waititi's quirky romantic comedy. Jarrod (Jemaine Clement) is a clerk at the local electronics store. Lily (Loren Horsley) is a shy cashier who earns her keep at the local Meaty Boy. After getting fired from her job, an emboldened Lily determines to put on her favorite shark costume, shed her inhibitions, and attend Jarrod's annual

R, 1 hr. 34 min.

Comedy

Taika Waititi

Jan 8, 2008

$0.1M

Miramax Films

All Critics (108) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (50) | DVD (11)

Daft, sweet, awkward and amusingly rude.

July 27, 2007 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | Comment
Orlando Sentinel
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The movie's idea of funny is giving the two lovers identical moles bordering their upper lips.

July 27, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Yes, the nerdy loser thing has been done to death, but writer-director Taika Cohen brings surprising depth to this film...Napoleon Dynamite dreams of being this movie.

July 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Detroit News | Comment
Detroit News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

So the only real argument I can make for Eagle vs. Shark, a stupid-absurdist comedy from New Zealand, is that I laughed a lot, often despite myself, and that while I might not be able to wholly justify it, I can mount a questionable defense.

July 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | Comment
Detroit Free Press
Top Critic IconTop Critic

I think this film was already made, and it was called Napoleon Dynamite.

July 6, 2007 Comment (1)
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Eagle vs. Shark might have seemed amusingly original, albeit in a self-consciously quirky, indie-movie kind of way, if Napoleon Dynamite didn't already exist.

July 6, 2007 Full Review Source: Associated Press | Comment
Associated Press
Top Critic IconTop Critic

As likeable as the movie was, I just didn't find it as funny as I thought I would.

August 23, 2008 Full Review Source: ReelzChannel.com | Comment

The strength of Eagle vs Shark lies in its unconventional story with unconventional leads.

August 18, 2008 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures | Comment
7M Pictures

As stylistically and thematically quirky as one might've anticipated...

August 11, 2008 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comment
Reel Film Reviews

Off-planet strangeness with a captivation factor.

January 23, 2008 Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | Comment
Cinema Signals

Romantic comedy about two lonely people who find each other while orbiting on the outer fringes of society reminded me of 'Napoleon Dynamite.'

January 15, 2008 Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | Comment
Laramie Movie Scope

When every person in the story is a boring loser, you know you're in for a long haul.

January 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

...mostly tedious and depressing, its eighty-eight minutes going by in about eight hours.

January 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

a fun little quirky movie but to similar to another curtain quirky movie..

January 6, 2008 Comment

A hit and miss little film with a forced sense of eccentricity that falls flat, but is otherwise saved by hilarious one-liners...

December 24, 2007 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | Comment
Cinema Crazed

A paean film to lonely misfits that follows along the same tracks as "Napoleon Dynamite," and relies entirely on being a charmer.

December 21, 2007 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Geek-love rom-com from New Zealand has bite.

October 22, 2007 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

A romantic comedy where one of the participants treats the other like crap.

September 12, 2007 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | Comment
Antagony & Ecstasy
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Eagle vs. Shark

Funny and very, very sweet! Sort of a Romeo & Juliet for nerds (like me!)

January 6, 2009
flixsterman
Randy Tippy

Super Reviewer

A sweet, touching and very funny film. Jemaine Clement plays the nerd with issues really well but Loren Horsley really steals the show as Lily. Highly recommended.

October 1, 2009
SirPant

Super Reviewer

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