All Critics (77)
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Top Critics (23)
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Fresh (41)
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Rotten (35)
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DVD (3)
It's as if Tony Soprano and Bella Swan had landed the two leads in somebody's amateur theater company, and this is what the lucky audience gets.
Well cast and nicely acted, it's another piece of the puzzle of what Kristen Stewart's career might look like after "Twilight" turns dark.
"Welcome to the Rileys"? Thanks, but no thanks.
Welcome to the Rileys is a reminder that good, or at least intriguing, things can come in what seem to be predictable packages.
Terrific acting by James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo -- and a noble effort from Kristen Stewart -- goes a long way toward salvaging it.
Doug's mission -- to reclaim Mallory's innocence and his own fatherhood -- is too deranged for the squeaky-clean treatment it receives here.
[It] will win no prizes for originality, but it benefits greatly from the subtle performances of the two leads, particularly Leo...
It's a preposterous story, yet for part of its duration at least, Gandolfini as the slouching, baggily dressed Doug and Leo as the reawakened wife manage to make it rather touching.
If it could be too slow-burning for some, it is at least a refreshing change from a pattern of film-making that never gives you a moment's rest because there is nothing under the surface.
It's downbeat and has little to say about the grieving process, and while Gandolfini and Leo are memorable, Stewart is not.
Gandolfini's bashful, bear-like Doug is endearing but most of this earnest film just doesn't ring true.
It's a well-made film, and New Orleans is crisply and interestingly shot by cinematographer Christopher Soos, but this ultimately looks like a TV movie dressed up for the big screen.
Despite its indie sensibilities, under the surface it's a pure Hollywood heart that beats here.
Stewart's strung-out, frowzy performance is a timely reminder that the girl can act, but despite strong work from all three leads, the facile screenplay runs out of things to say fairly quickly.
The dialogue and ponderous drama got lost even before the camera rolled.
Observant writing and direction make this exploration of grief surprisingly uplifting.
Quietly assured and superbly written, this is an emotionally engaging drama with a trio of terrific performances from James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart and Melissa Leo.
Movingly written and exquisitely played by the three leads, this never gets bogged down in sentiment or lazily opts for easy answers.
Stewart lets it all hang out in a firecracker role but her damaged character never achieves the depth the weak material could have done with.
It's not horrible. It's just directed and written with a heavy hand and a sensibility that could use a lot more restraint.
...a consistently watchable piece of work that benefits substantially from its stellar performances...
Surprising twists lead the story in unexpected directions. The actors get credit for making you care about these characters. The audience develops a temporary bond during the 110-minute running time.
The film works because its stars make up a trifecta of terrific performers who overcome the clichés inherent in their characters.
...an uncompromising movie about the compromises people sometimes have to make in order to save themselves - and others. It's about doing what's necessary and right, instead of what's moral.
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