Do you want to see ‘The Fantasticks’?

The Fantasticks (1995)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.2/10
Reviews Counted: 24
Fresh: 12 | Rotten: 12

No consensus yet.

No Score Yet...

Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 2

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 1,525

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

The longest-running show in the history of the American theater (it opened at an off-Broadway theater in the spring of 1960, where it remained until the production finally closed in early 2002) finally arrives onscreen. Hucklebee (Brad Sullivan) and Bellamy (Joel Grey) are a pair of small town fathers who are scheming to bring their children Matt (Joseph McIntyre) and Luisa (Jean Louisa Kelly) together in a romance. As a carnival arrives to bring some excitement to the sleepy village, the

PG, 1 hr. 30 min.

Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy

Directed By: Michael Ritchie

Written By: Tom Jones

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1995 Wide

On DVD: Mar 29, 2005

MGM

The Fantasticks Trailer & Photos

Cast

Critic Reviews for The Fantasticks

All Critics (33) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (13) | DVD (3)

It provides an invaluable example of how not to make a movie out of a stage classic.

May 4, 2010 Full Review Source: Film Snobbery

| Comment

Phil Hall

Film Snobbery

Truth to tell, it's exactly the kind of musical pointed out by people who say they just don't like musicals.

July 12, 2006 Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

| Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

[S]imultaneously flat and cartoonish...

December 3, 2002 Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher

| Comment

MaryAnn Johanson

Flick Filosopher

Francis Coppola...came up with this brief, eighty-seven minute version that still seems way too long.

April 16, 2002 Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

It's a trifle, but was pleasantly presented and I found it to be an adequate though not a scintillating production.

January 4, 2002 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The movie musical is practically a dead horse in Hollywood, and The Fantasticks does little to kick it back to life.

April 4, 2001 Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Fantasticks

View All

A couple catchy tunes. Probably one of the only stage musicals to require such a small cast and such minimal scenery. In this film production it just comes off as creepy and odd.

February 4, 2008

Byron Brubaker

This movie is entertaining for a B movie. Not very well made. You might get a kick out of it though. At times it becomes a poorly performed musical. There is a good vs evil plot going on while young love springs forth! It is not great, but I have seen far worse!

September 27, 2009

Donibscott@ctcis.net Donibscott@ctcis.net

The Fantasticks Quotes

View All

1. Hucklebee: And what exactly would this literary rape cost?
2. El Gallo: Here's my rough estimate. [hands Hucklebee a piece of paper]
3. Hucklebee: [peers and then squints at the document as he says cynically] My...You really get screwed on these Literary Rapes.
– Submitted by Trace F (29 days ago)