The story flirts with sticky sentimentality but never quite falls into the trap, thanks to Caine's masterful presence.
Comment
05/01/09
Is Anybody There? (2009)
66
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:114
Fresh:75
Rotten:39
Average Rating:6.3/10
Consensus: Though Michael Caine gives an excellent performance, Is Anybody There? features a cliche-filled story that ultimately falters.
Theatrical Release:Apr 17, 2009 Limited
Box Office: $1,988,165
Synopsis: Growing up and growing old never played so poignantly as it does in John Crowley’s IS ANYBODY THERE? The film grapples with the sad truths of getting older and losing loved ones, all the while... [More]
Starring: Michael Caine, Bill Milner, Anne-Marie Duff, David Morrissey
Director: John Crowley
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Reviews for Is Anybody There?
A kid-meets-curmudgeon comedy that transcends its formulaic skeleton thanks both to the veteran actor's charm and a smarter-than-average screenplay.
05/01/09
For a movie about dying, Is Anybody There? is surprisingly sweet.
05/01/09
Caine leads an impeccable cast in a story that is as touching as it is funny, turning the mundane minutiae of fading lives into a vibrant display.
05/01/09
The tender rapport between this film’s two leads, 76-year-old Michael Caine and 14-year-old Bill Milner, is reason enough to see this sweet-natured British indie that explores the not-very-sexy topics of death and ageing.
05/01/09
It's a film to respect or admire from a distance, rather than like or, you know, actually enjoy.
05/01/09
It’s a tragic farce. There are moments of dramatic pudding when the anxieties and fears that Clarence and Edward share grind in opposite directions. But the magic is in the tiny, immaculate stitches.
05/01/09
This sweet-natured movie can nonetheless provide laughs and sharp insights, as well as a lump in the throat.
05/01/09
He could have been on to a real winner; as it is, it’s charming, but slight, and you rather feel Son of Rambow got here first on the Thatcher-era coming-of-age front.
05/01/09
Is Anybody There? lets the thought that helpless infirmity is where we’re all headed sink in gently. Unassumingly wise, its jagged edges stick with you.
05/01/09
Is Anybody There? conjures up a winning concoction of laughs, tears and '80s nostalgia. Above all, it showcases the breadth of British acting talent.
05/01/09
Whether by accident or design, Is Anybody There? shares its youthful lead and ‘80s setting with funny, inventive Son Of Rambow. It hasn’t emerged from its shadow.
05/01/09
Thought-provoking and quietly impressive, it's not a big movie but it is big-hearted.
05/01/09
The sum of its gently amusing parts doesn’t add up to a film likely to stay long in the heart – or multiplex.
05/01/09
Despite this being a small film with a small budget the cast, including a never better Michael Caine, give it their all and turn in superb performances.
05/01/09
It's amiable and inoffensive, and Caine gives one of his most charming performances as the curmudgeonly conjuror; but I fear that in cinemas this is going to perform an all too rapid disappearing act.
05/01/09
Witty, poignant and very touching, this is the British comedy of the year.
05/01/09
Slushy but with a great cast...
05/01/09
Only the amusing attention to Eighties detail, such as Morrissey’s New Romantic mullet haircut, and an entertaining grumpy old man impression from Caine keep the film alive. But any laughs are drowned out by predictable melodrama.
05/01/09
It's good stuff from Caine, an actor who often pretends that his craft is a simple application of practiced technique.
05/01/09
Latest News for Is Anybody There?
April 16, 2009:
Critics Consensus: 17 Again Is Sweet And Poignant
This week at the movies, we've got a high school do-over (17 Again, starring Zac Efron and Leslie Mann), some journalistic thrills (State of Play, starring Russell Crowe and... More...
April 01, 2009:
Michael Caine Talks Batman 3 
Michael Caine is out promoting his latest feature, "Is Anybody There," but he's perfectly willing to share his thoughts on the next "Batman" sequel -- fortunately for Collider,... More...
March 22, 2009:
Click for trailer and preview
More...
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