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Recess: School's Out (2001)

tomatometer

61

Average Rating: 5.8/10
Reviews Counted: 69
Fresh: 42 | Rotten: 27

Though basically a TV cartoon stretched out to movie-length, Recess has enough successful jokes and smart writing to make it a worthwhile view.

53

Average Rating: 5.3/10
Critic Reviews: 19
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 9

Though basically a TV cartoon stretched out to movie-length, Recess has enough successful jokes and smart writing to make it a worthwhile view.

audience

51

liked it
Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 8,550

My Rating

Movie Info

Based on the popular animated children's program Disney's Recess, this full-length film focuses on the end of a school year, where young pupil T.J. Detweiler is looking ahead to having a wild, fun-packed summer vacation. T.J. stumbles upon a plot hatched by the villainous Dr. Benedict, a former principal who once tried to strike recess from the average school day. Dr. Benedict hatches a scheme to control weather patterns with a specialized laser beam to create a permanent winter, making it

G, 1 hr. 22 min.

Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy, Special Interest

Jonathan Greenberg

Aug 7, 2001

$34.8M

Buena Vista Pictures

Cast

All Critics (70) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (27) | DVD (7)

Refreshingly subversive.

February 16, 2001 Comment
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

About as exciting as a lunchbox full of carrot sticks.

February 16, 2001 Comment
Detroit Free Press
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Passably speedy on the level of other TV retreads that seem miscast on the big screen.

February 16, 2001 Full Review Source: USA Today | Comment
USA Today
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It's fun, it's kind of somber and it succeeds in making you think about how you might be squandering middle age.

February 16, 2001 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
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There are times when I wonder why so much energy is expended finding alternatives to funny animals who hit each other with anvils.

February 16, 2001 Full Review Source: Newsday | Comment
Newsday
Top Critic IconTop Critic

There's nothing new here, not even the idea of Mikey's singing voice coming from Robert Goulet.

February 16, 2001 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Simply a TV episode blown up for the big screen.

December 28, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Its well characterised comedy of playground manners and teasing social awareness rings confidently through.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

It has my favorite characters and it's kind of like a mystery.

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment
Film Threat

The film never gets too far beyond disposable youth fare, best consumed like mouthfuls of sugary cereal.

March 10, 2003 Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | Comment
Austin Chronicle

If you have to take the kids to a low-rent cartoon, this experience at least is enjoyably trippy.

February 8, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | Comment
Film Quips Online

This is a smart story and well paced.

June 5, 2002 Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | Comment
Boxoffice Magazine

Director Chuck Sheetz spins it into an enjoyable breeze. The humor regularly hits the mark, and the kid lessons are well baked.

March 24, 2002 Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | Comment
Boston Phoenix

These are definitely characters with comedic promise, but the movie is so concerned on establishing its big story, that it leaves them too far behind.

February 26, 2002 Full Review Source: Mark Reviews Movies | Comment
Mark Reviews Movies

"Recess: School's Out" isn't great art, but it is a pleasant and swift moving cartoon that should appeal to children of all ages.

December 21, 2001 Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | Comment
Hollywood.com

Adults will enjoy it more than they expect.

December 10, 2001 Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | Comment
Shadows on the Wall

Even if it did keep the ankle biters quiet for an hour or so, this still wouldn't be worth your money.

August 6, 2001 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Empire Magazine

The film works because it is peppered with sharp, smart, and sometimes wonderfully odd comic moments.

July 30, 2001 Full Review Source: BBC | Comment

The writing is clever and never patronises its youthful target audience.

July 6, 2001 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | Comment
Urban Cinefile

Watching this big-screen adaptation of the television cartoon, "Disney's Recess" is about like having recess on a rainy day.

March 20, 2001 Full Review Source: Lawrence Journal-World | Comment
Lawrence Journal-World

While none of it's anything particularly spectacular or memorable ... it works as needed.

March 14, 2001 Full Review Source: Screen It! | Comment
Screen It!

"It's kid-friendly fun."

March 14, 2001 Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | Comment
rec.arts.movies.reviews

A fast paced actioner built around the growing solidarity between the kids and the teachers.

March 5, 2001 Full Review Source: Film Journal International | Comment
Film Journal International

It is amusing and mostly devoid of crude humor, which is worth mentioning with kids' films nowadays.

March 5, 2001 Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | Comment
EricDSnider.com

Standard kids movie stuff.

February 27, 2001 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Recess: School's Out

This is better than the tv show.

March 19, 2010
erika250
erika bruhns

Super Reviewer

An extended episode with a rediculous plot that will have the kids laughing and the adults sleeping.

August 16, 2011
Dillon Lupky

Super Reviewer

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