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Seven Pounds

Seven Pounds (2008)

tomatometer

26

Average Rating: 4.6/10
Reviews Counted: 185
Fresh: 49 | Rotten: 136

Grim and morose, Seven Pounds is also undone by an illogical plot.

35

Average Rating: 5/10
Critic Reviews: 37
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 24

Grim and morose, Seven Pounds is also undone by an illogical plot.

audience

77

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 597,997

My Rating

Movie Info

Academy Award nominee Will Smith reunites with the director and producers of The Pursuit of Happyness for this emotional drama concerning an IRS agent whose quest for redemption is unexpectedly complicated after he inadvertently falls in love. Ben Thomas is an IRS agent with a fateful secret. Assuming the identity of his younger brother, Ben sets out in search of redemption. Instead, Ben discovers true love while forever changing the lives of seven complete strangers. Woody Harrelson, Rosario

PG-13, 2 hr. 3 min.

Drama, Romance

Grant Nieporte

Mar 31, 2009

$70.0M

Sony Pictures

Cast

All Critics (185) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (140) | DVD (15)

I think it's just kind of average but Rosario Dawson is great and worthy of some type of recognition throughout this award show season.

December 22, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies | Comment
At the Movies
Top Critic IconTop Critic

That big twist at the end... if you go back and analyze it -- I'm not sure it holds up, but I don't think it really matters all that much.

December 22, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies | Comment (1)
At the Movies
Top Critic IconTop Critic

As high concepts go, Seven Pounds is distasteful in the extreme.

December 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | Comments (4)
Christian Science Monitor
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's a lovely performance [by Dawson], in part because her character throws every charm she's got at the one man who seems doomed to deflect it.

December 19, 2008 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | Comment
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It takes the soggy cake for multiple layers of sentimentality topped by indigestible grandiosity.

December 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Wall Street Journal | Comments (2)
Wall Street Journal
Top Critic IconTop Critic

You will either be frustrated with its asymmetrical and manipulative storytelling or be captivated by scattered clues that ultimately lead to some kind of resolution.

December 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Toronto Star | Comment
Toronto Star
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An overwrought, improbable drama that's as frustrating as it is morbid.

July 14, 2011 Full Review Source: Digital Spy | Comment
Digital Spy

Proof that no black actor, regardless of acclaim or popularity, can ever truly transcend the Mythical Black Man motif. Milquetoast dweebishness robs Will Smith of his natural forcefulness, and "Seven Pounds" has easily the worst ending of the last decade.

October 31, 2010 Full Review Source: Suite101.com | Comments (10)
Suite101.com

Reactions to the movie will largely depend on whether or not viewers decide this time that the divine Mr. Smith has overreached. I say he has -- but I can't tell you why.

July 6, 2010 Full Review Source: NPR.org | Comment
NPR.org

El ritmo de la cinta es algo lento en un inicio pero después mejora, aunque hay que decirlo, se siente la mano manipuladora del director que parece haber estado más concentrado en pensar si el público se sentiría conmovido que en hacer un filme memorable.

March 11, 2010 Full Review Source: Cinenganos | Comment
Cinenganos

Seven Pounds may be the most spiritual picture of the holiday season; this story of redemption is a gift for moviegoers.

September 8, 2009 Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | Comment (1)
Hollywood.com

The ending will divide viewers. Some will shed tears, others will be outraged. It's a bold artistic choice, but one of questionable morality.

August 30, 2009 Full Review Source: Washington Times | Comment

The creepiest version yet of the Magical Negro routine

August 26, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion | Comments (11)
CinePassion

Takes immense pleasure in letting its audience in on nothing.

July 30, 2009 Full Review Source: Moviedex | Comments (4)
Moviedex

The good, Will Smith is a brilliant actor. The bad, Seven Pounds isn't nearly as brilliant as Will Smith.

June 10, 2009 Full Review Source: BET.com | Comment
BET.com

Will Smith's previous film with director Gabriele Muccino, The Pursuit of Happyness, was a tale well told. Their new one is a gimmicky tale annoyingly told.

April 23, 2009 Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | Comment
Boston Phoenix

Between the schmaltz and muzak, this surprisingly-superficial message movie amounts to little more than a feature-length public service announcement on the dangers of text-messaging while driving.

March 29, 2009 Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | Comment
NewsBlaze

Scrooge is Will Smith's 21st century workaholic with text messaging addiction issues. Suicide by jellyfish, don't ask. Paging Dr. Kevorkian.

March 22, 2009 Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | Comment
NewsBlaze

Extras include an audio commentary by director Gabrielle Muccino, a set of deleted scenes and four fairly substantial featurettes.

March 10, 2009 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide

A clumsily melodramatic movie that tells us too much too soon and forces us to sit through endless morose vacuousness.

March 10, 2009 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide

Más allá de lo caprichoso de la historia, e incluso de lo fragmentario del relato -a lo 21 Gramos- es innegable la capacidad que exhibe Muccino para atrapar la atención del espectador.

March 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Uruguay Total | Comment
Uruguay Total

Not a bad tearjerker for the holiday season and as Smith's in it, it'll probably make a mint.

February 27, 2009 Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | Comment
JoBlo's Movie Emporium
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Seven Pounds

Starring Will Smith, SEVEN POUNDS is a moving but ultimately flummoxing drama. It tells the tale of a man who causes a car crash (shown in a flashback, as this happens before the film's main events) by text messaging while driving. Regretting the terrible accident, he sets out to save the lives of seven good people

September 10, 2011
spielberg00
Alexander Diminiano

Super Reviewer

Seven Pounds had a great cast and premise, but this was so boring I can't even explain. The plot was so slow and dull, and I wasn't even interested til near the end. The cast was great, Will Smith played a great performance. Overall I would watch this again because of the great acting and deep meanings, but not for

May 29, 2011
DreamExtractor
Brad Wright

Super Reviewer

    1. Ben Thomas: I remember giving you something. Remember that? Because I remember that very clearly.
    – Submitted by John-Paul H (5 months ago)
    1. Emily Posa: You know, just so you know, I used to be really hot.
    – Submitted by Hanna K (8 months ago)
    1. Ben Thomas: In seven days, God created the world. And in seven seconds, I shattered mine.
    – Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)
    1. Ben Thomas: I haven't treated myself very well.
    – Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)

Latest News for Seven Pounds

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December 18, 2008:
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