44
Metascore
6 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 70VarietyRonnie ScheibVarietyRonnie ScheibSpinning a wry, tall-tale version of his autobiography, the septuagenarian audaciously plays himself at every age and every stage of his improbably picaresque adventures.
- It’s disappointing, though, to see that his work, while it’s become more polished, has remained essentially self-indulgent and superficial despite the big themes of racism and identity that it takes on.
- 50Chicago ReaderJ.R. JonesChicago ReaderJ.R. JonesThe video has a funky, loose-limbed feel, but Van Peebles has been celebrated so much already you have to wonder how many victory laps a man needs.
- 50Los Angeles TimesKevin ThomasLos Angeles TimesKevin ThomasVan Peebles' persona and sensibility remain engaging, as do his way with his beguiling score and songs, but his film desperately needs tightening to eliminate tedious moments, especially in the African sequence.
- 40Time OutDavid FearTime OutDavid FearThere’s something admirable about the anything-goes energy that Van Peebles brings to this tall tale, but the amateurishness and Video Toaster–era technical tricks start to grate after a bit. It’s a funky, free-form fairy tale, but one that only a mutha could truly love.
- 30Village VoiceVillage VoiceThere's a temptation to "give" this to Van Peebles, but any scene in which actors get to interact is deathly awkward, and 100 minutes should never feel this long.