65
Metascore
39 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100VarietyOwen GleibermanVarietyOwen GleibermanIn Vengeance, B.J. Novak proves a born storyteller with the rare gift of using a film to say something that intoxicates us.
- 83IndieWireDavid EhrlichIndieWireDavid EhrlichEven when the jokes miss the mark or the central mystery seems too easily solved, Vengeance is sustained by the question of what its characters mean to each other; a question asked sweetly but shrouded by an ever-growing darkness that allows the film to wander into dangerous territory by the end.
- 75The PlaylistJason BaileyThe PlaylistJason BaileySome of Novak’s camera sense, particularly early on, betrays his sitcom roots, and he commits the classic rookie mistake of going on three or so scenes too long, tying up inconsequential loose ends. But he crafts a good mystery, consistently engaging and entertaining, and the thoughtful turns of the last confrontation are sly, smart, and knowing.
- In “Vengeance,” Novak proves his chops both as an adept filmmaker and skillful satirist of contemporary mores.
- 75San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleSan Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleVengeance is unexpected and, in the best way, weird. In his first film as a writer-director, B.J. Novak takes familiar elements, but puts them together in ways that are original and unexpected. Even when the plot turns go off the deep end, it’s impossible not to appreciate Novak’s audacity.
- 70SlashfilmHoai-Tran BuiSlashfilmHoai-Tran BuiVengeance manages to balance its self-effacing and sentimental tones in a way that is extremely satisfying and entertaining to watch.
- 63Slant MagazineChuck BowenSlant MagazineChuck BowenThough its lack of emotional escalation could be read as intentional, Vengeance is ground to a repetitive halt by B.J. Novak’s preaching.
- 50The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeThe Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeMild fish-out-of-water humor and an element of mystery may satisfy fans of Novak’s work on the again-popular The Office, but fall short of proving he has much potential as a big-screen auteur.
- 40TheWrapSimon AbramsTheWrapSimon AbramsThe scattershot new media satire Vengeance might have been merely a toothless provocation replete with both-sides false equivalences were it not so well-scripted and well-directed on a scene-to-scene basis.