Grassroots (2012)
Average Rating: 5.3/10
Reviews Counted: 27
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 13
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 5.2/10
Critic Reviews: 8
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 5
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 1,316
Movie Info
A short-tempered, unemployed music critic who likes to dress as a polar bear thinks he can harness the power of the people to ride the monorail to political victory in Seattle. And he's right. Almost. It's before Twitter, before the flash mob, before Obama. It's 2001, and political unknown Grant Cogswell decides he must take down Seattle City Councilman Richard McIver. Grant has only one dream, but it's a big one: an elegant monorail gliding silently above the city's wet streets. Grassroots is a
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Joel David Moore
Grant Cogswell -
Cedric the Entertainer
Richard McIver -
Jason Biggs
Phil Campbell -
Lauren Ambrose
Emily -
Cobie Smulders
Clair, Claire -
Christopher McDonald
Jim Tripp, Tripp -
Tom Arnold
Tommy -
Emily Bergl
Theresa Glendon -
D.C. Pierson
Wayne -
Todd Stashwick
Nick Ricochet -
Dave Beresford
SnowWolf -
Sean Nelson
Musician -
Lance Rosen
ACLU Lawyer #1 -
Sarah Dunne
ACLU Lawyer #2 -
Connie Nartonis Thompson
Connie Thompson -
Sarah Harlett
Receptionist -
Claire Vardiel
Augusta D'Amico -
Branden Romans
Genzlinger -
Russell Hodgkinson
Pernell Alden -
Imogen Love
First Questioner -
Garr Godfrey
Second Questioner -
Barbara Deering
Moderator -
Joe Mandragona
Kevin -
Michael Nardelli
Willis -
Nik Doner
Doug -
Amy Frear
Lisa -
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Ba...
Comet House Band -
Noah Harpster
Marvin -
Talena Bennett
Reporter #1 -
John Ulman
Agent Goecker -
Anthony Fuller
Agent Sikora -
Steve Pool
NY News Reporter -
Rodney Sherwood
Tate Austin -
Brent Stiefel
Campaign Volunteer -
Rachel Pate
Suit -
Erin Mayovsky
Reporter #2 -
Todd Licea
Reporter #3 -
John Misner
Reporter #4 -
Michael Huffington
Cleve Stockmeyer -
Joel Moore
Grant Cogswell
ADVERTISEMENT
All Critics (30) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (13)
An enjoyable, fitfully engaging but ever-so-slightly forgettable minor-key political comedy.
Top CriticGrassroots is a movie where bad ideas, because they're the ones championed by the "correct" side, are king. It never acknowledges that sometimes idealism is just another kind of manipulation.
At first glance, "Grassroots" doesn't seem like much of an idea for a movie. Nor at second, third or fourth glance.
Although it only glosses the mechanics of local politics, it exudes an endearingly scruffy charm.
This is one film as misguided as the business-as-usual subject it aims to critique.
Grassroots disingenuously has it both ways, reducing politics first to a David-versus-Goliath adventure, and then to an everyone-is-cool bowl of mush.
A movie populated by dislikeable characters and written/directed with no aplomb whatsoever ...
[A] refreshing real-life political story ...
There's a terrific sense of righteous anger in this scruffy comedy about disenfranchised people shaking American politics to its core.
Proves very likable, if a little Sorkin-lite.
You'll root for the giant all the way.
Engaging, enjoyable and extremely well timed political comedy/drama with a strong script and a pair of terrific performances from Jason Biggs and Joel David Moore.
With Avatar's Moore on inspiring form, and Biggs the best he's been since early Pie, this is still worth your vote.
Grassroots is so in love with its titular spirit that an underlying note of cynicism is never fully embraced... With results at the ballot so close to the line, though, one might reasonably expect a bit of a mixed message to emerge.
For what it's worth, Grassroots features Cedric the Entertainer's best performance to date.
You don't have to look too far these days to notice films abounding with jobless and financially struggling characters, in stark contrast to the recession-proof movies they inhabit. Top that off with emerging election year movies, and enter Grassroots.
A smarter movie than you expect...It's probably naïve, but it's also enjoyable and even a little thought-provoking.
A call to citizen participation [through a] portrait of shoe leather political organizing pre-social media is lively, but seems more enjoyably quaint than inspiring.
Tale of a Seattle race for city council is strident and ultimately tiresome.
The funny adventures of two little guys who enter the tricky world of politics with nothing but passion and a dream.
Audience Reviews for Grassroots
Super Reviewer
-
- Phil Campbell: What happens if we do win?
-
- Grant Cogswell: You are going to do it with me. It's the reason you got fired!
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for Grassroots yet.
What's Hot On RT
Jack the Giant Slayer and...
War Rages in 300: Rise of an Empire
See the Desolation of Smaug trailer!
Where does This Is the End rank?
Fresh Links
Featured
Movie: ID: 771306781 Title: Grassroots Release Date: 2012-06-22 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 4 Status: 1
The Looks of Johnny Depp
To celebrate the star's birthday, BuzzSugar looks at the many faces of Johnny Depp.
10 Egregious Product Placements
Rolling Stone wonders if The Internship goes too far... then provides 10 examples of movies that did.
Horror Movie Mistakes
Moviefone offers up 8 of the most obvious glaring errors in popular fright flicks.
10 Bad Movies That Look Great
Sometimes even terrible movies can be beautiful; here are 10 of them, from HitFix.
50 Most Classic Movie Moms
In celebration of Mother's Day, TimeOut offers up 50 iconic matriarchs from the big screen.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
Featured on RT
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Jack the Giant Slayer and Quartet 9
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Man of Steel Sets June Record 96
- Weekly Ketchup: Man of Steel Sequel In the Works 162
- Five Favorite Films with Joss Whedon 112
- Bonus Footage of the Cast & Crew of Man of Steel 1
- Critics Consensus: Man of Steel Is Up, Up, and Okay 277
- Total Recall: Superman Movies 143
Top Headlines
-
Sony Sets Dates for Amazing Spider-Man 3 and 4
3
-
Man of Steel 2 Rumored for 2014
3
-
No Loki in The Avengers 2
1
-
Watch Natalie Portman's The Professional Audition
0
-
John C. Reilly's Guardians of the Galaxy Role Revealed
5
-
Arnold Schwarzenegger Confirms His Expendables 3 Return
1
-
The Muppets...Again! Is Now Muppets Most Wanted
0
Foreign Titles
- Grassroots (DE)
- Grassroots (UK)
