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Stolen Summer (2002)

tomatometer

35

Average Rating: 5/10
Reviews Counted: 57
Fresh: 20 | Rotten: 37

Stolen Summer feels like a sugary after-school special stretched out to feature length.

38

Average Rating: 4.7/10
Critic Reviews: 21
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 13

Stolen Summer feels like a sugary after-school special stretched out to feature length.

audience

68

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 1,595

My Rating

Movie Info

Pete (Adi Stein) is an eight-year-old Catholic boy growing up in the suburbs of Chicago in the mid-'70s. Pete attends Catholic school, where as classes let out for the summer, he's admonished by a nun to follow the path of Lord, and not that of the Devil. Perhaps taking this message a bit too seriously, Pete decides it's his goal for the summer to help someone get into heaven; having been told that Catholicism is the only sure path to the kingdom of the Lord, Pete decides to convert a Jew to

PG, 1 hr. 31 min.

Drama, Comedy

Pete Jones

Sep 24, 2002

$0.1M

Miramax Films

Cast

All Critics (68) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (37) | DVD (5)

Nearly all the fundamentals you take for granted in most films are mishandled here.

June 27, 2002 Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | Comment
Dallas Morning News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Even when his technique is amateurish, Jones' belief in the material is refreshing.

May 16, 2002 Comment
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The performances take the movie to a higher level.

May 10, 2002 Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The problem, amazingly enough, is the screenplay.

May 3, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Ill-considered, unholy hokum.

May 3, 2002 Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | Comment
Detroit Free Press
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The background and conditions under which this film (part of HBO's Proejct Greenlight) was produced and documented (with step-by-step accuracy, humor, and cynicism, and self-importance) overshadow by far its underwhelming artistic merits; it's a clunker

February 9, 2007 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

A nice film with some really great actors

May 6, 2005 Comment
Moviehole

Not nearly as entertaining as the behind-the-scenes stories.

April 3, 2005 Comment
eFilmCritic.com

...an affable slice-of-life tale.

August 1, 2003 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comment
Reel Film Reviews

The young stars are too cute; the story and ensuing complications are too manipulative; the message is too blatant; the resolutions are too convenient.

December 31, 2002 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide

Jones has delivered a solidly entertaining and moving family drama.

December 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment
Film Threat

Debut effort by "Project Greenlight" winner is sappy and amateurish.

November 7, 2002 Full Review Source: Netflix | Comment
Netflix

A period story about a Catholic boy who tries to help a Jewish friend get into heaven by sending the audience straight to hell.

September 23, 2002 Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | Comment
L.A. Weekly
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Stolen Summer

This movie demonstrates the innocence I think God intends us all to view Him with but have forgotten how to do. I am Spiritual without being religious and this movie shows it takes that "faith" of doing good more so than following traditions to get to Heaven. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhist or any faith cannot

September 5, 2010
Tomassgringo

Super Reviewer

Very sweet and endearing...

November 9, 2006
dreamfaeries

Super Reviewer

Stolen Summer Quotes

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Latest News for Stolen Summer

September 19, 2005:
Fox Demands to See Farrellys "Hall Pass"
Pete Jones' spec script for the comedy "Hall Pass" has been picked up by Fox, and the...

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