The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys Reviews
June 28, 2002
Although McFarlane's sequences are inventive, the rest of the film moves languidly.
June 25, 2002
I thought the young actors were strong, but the material is too thin and too cliched, even with Todd McFarlane's animated sequences to stretch the story to feature length.
June 25, 2002
It's not serious enough to be profound, and not ribald enough to be giddy.
June 24, 2002
While there are times when the film's reach exceeds its grasp, the production works more often than it doesn't.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/4
June 23, 2002
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
June 21, 2002
Steers refreshingly clear of the usual cliches.
Original Score: 4.5/5
June 21, 2002
Sharp, lively, funny and ultimately sobering film.
Original Score: 4/5
June 21, 2002
A charming reminder of the combustible mix of puberty and authority in the lives of 14-year-olds.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
June 21, 2002
If Dangerous Lives errs, it's in trying to do too much in 105 minutes.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/4
June 21, 2002
Foster and newcomer Hirsch are the best things in Dangerous Lives, a touching but odd mix of live action and animation.
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| Original Score: 2/4
June 21, 2002
A fine, inventive '70s period piece about friendship, first love, and growing up to face the hard lessons of life.
Original Score: 3.5/4
June 21, 2002
Although fairly involving as far as it goes, the film doesn't end up having much that is fresh to say about growing up Catholic or, really, anything.
Original Score: 3/5
June 21, 2002
A soggy coming-of-age drama, one loaded with a single fresh conceit and plenty of tired, wheezing ones.
Original Score: 2/4
June 21, 2002
A flawed but fascinating piece.
Original Score: 2/4
June 21, 2002
[An] engrossing and imaginative coming-of-age film.
Original Score: 3/4
June 21, 2002
Recalls The Virgin Suicides, Ghost World and Waking Life. If it's not as good as those, it isn't for lack of heart or ambition.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/4
June 21, 2002
For a movie that's so full of anger and confusion, there sure aren't many memorable clashes, aside from the ones that take place in the kids' imaginations.
June 21, 2002
Built for nothing but the laziest Saturday afternoons, Altar Boys is zipless enough to seem to receive its narrative rhythms and emotional energy intravenously.
Original Score: 2.5/4
June 21, 2002
No, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys does not exist in a state of perfect grace. However, its sins are forgivably venial, because its virtues are palpably human.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/4
June 21, 2002
It tries too hard, and overreaches the logic of its own world.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/4