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The Art of Self-Defense grapples compellingly with modern American masculinity -- and serves as an outstanding calling card for writer-director Riley Stearns.
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All Critics (155) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (130) | Rotten (25)
Bold but inconsistent, outrageous but not all that shocking, The Art of Self Defense never reaches its full potential, but lands more than enough punches to warrant our attention. Jul 19, 2019 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Bold but inconsistent, outrageous but not all that shocking, The Art of Self Defense never reaches its full potential, but lands more than enough punches to warrant our attention.
Richard Roeper
It's tempting to imagine that writer-director Riley Stearns caught a screening of the supremely feel-good The Karate Kid and thought, "Yeah, I can make the opposite of that." Jul 19, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
It's tempting to imagine that writer-director Riley Stearns caught a screening of the supremely feel-good The Karate Kid and thought, "Yeah, I can make the opposite of that."
Matthew Lickona
If offbeat is the goal, Stearns earns his black belt. Jul 19, 2019 | Rating: B | Full Review…
If offbeat is the goal, Stearns earns his black belt.
Adam Graham
Stearns' satire is mostly of the blunt-force variety. Jul 19, 2019 | Full Review…
Stearns' satire is mostly of the blunt-force variety.
David Sims
The film's calm brutality is effective. Plot-wise, some punches are telegraphed, while others are not. The satire is a spinning wheel kick I didn't see coming. Black belts all around. Jul 18, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
The film's calm brutality is effective. Plot-wise, some punches are telegraphed, while others are not. The satire is a spinning wheel kick I didn't see coming. Black belts all around.
Brad Wheeler
Mannered and remote, the movie throws a lot of punches but hardly ever connects. Jul 18, 2019 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Mannered and remote, the movie throws a lot of punches but hardly ever connects.
Ty Burr
That it does not quite hit its target is unfortunate, but it does at least leave a watchable movie behind. Dec 2, 2019 | Rating: 6/10 | Full Review…
That it does not quite hit its target is unfortunate, but it does at least leave a watchable movie behind.
Grant Watson
The Art of Self-Defense may be a dark comedy, but it is extremely intelligent when it comes to the subjects it addresses and represents on screen. [Full Review in Spanish] Nov 11, 2019 | Rating: 8/10 | Full Review…
The Art of Self-Defense may be a dark comedy, but it is extremely intelligent when it comes to the subjects it addresses and represents on screen. [Full Review in Spanish]
Iván Belmont
It works even beyond its limitations or defects, which seem to be calculated. [Full review in Spanish] Nov 5, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
It works even beyond its limitations or defects, which seem to be calculated. [Full review in Spanish]
Carlos Jesús González
The timid and anxious attitude of [Jesse] Eisenberg makes him an excellent choice for the comic sensibility that the director seeks to portray. [Full Review in Spanish] Nov 5, 2019 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
The timid and anxious attitude of [Jesse] Eisenberg makes him an excellent choice for the comic sensibility that the director seeks to portray. [Full Review in Spanish]
Luis Fernando Galván
The Art of Self-Defense is a very good and very black comedy. So black that I might have been the only one in the room laughing with certain jokes. [Full Review in Spanish] Nov 1, 2019 | Full Review…
The Art of Self-Defense is a very good and very black comedy. So black that I might have been the only one in the room laughing with certain jokes. [Full Review in Spanish]
Fernanda Solórzano
If the first rule of Fight Club is that you do not talk about Fight Club, then the first rule of The Art of Self-Defense is that you should talk about The Art of Self-Defense to anyone who will listen. Oct 27, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
If the first rule of Fight Club is that you do not talk about Fight Club, then the first rule of The Art of Self-Defense is that you should talk about The Art of Self-Defense to anyone who will listen.
Matt Brunson
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