32
Metascore
12 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 75San Francisco ChronicleSan Francisco ChronicleIt’s a taut erotic thriller with the obligatory plot twists and a surprise ending that isn’t all that much of a surprise because Careful What You Wish For is the kind of taut erotic thriller that comes with a surprise ending.
- 63New York PostSara StewartNew York PostSara StewartThis erotic noir is about as substantial as one of its female lead’s string bikinis, but it’s an enjoyable trifle nonetheless.
- 50The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayThe A.V. ClubNoel MurrayThe dreary repetition of the affair sinks Careful What You Wish For. That, and the fact that both leads are lightweights. Lucas and Jonas are okay actors, but neither has the wit, gravity, or sensuality to stand up to the classic film noir duos they’re meant to evoke.
- 50Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperChicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperCareful What You Wish For is aiming for lusty, lurid, B-movie titillation, but it’s not nearly as sexy nor nearly as clever as it would like to be.
- 42The Film StageJared MobarakThe Film StageJared MobarakSometimes thrillers of the “youthful stalker hits the sexual jackpot” variety can at least be entertaining in an ironic way, but that’s unfortunately not the case here.
- 20TheWrapTricia OlszewskiTheWrapTricia OlszewskiTo be fair, the unraveling of “Careful” is not the fault of the stars.
- 20The New York TimesNeil GenzlingerThe New York TimesNeil GenzlingerA film that tries to be both titillating and suspenseful but is neither.
- 20Los Angeles TimesKatie WalshLos Angeles TimesKatie WalshIt’s a color-by-numbers thriller that’s flat.
- 20Village VoiceChris PackhamVillage VoiceChris PackhamAllen attempts to build a sense of mounting anxiety via the increasing suspicions of a tenacious insurance investigator, unexpected testimony from eyewitnesses, and Lena's squirrelly behavior, but pop star Jonas is incapable of making simple facial expressions, let alone evincing existential dread.