53
Metascore
21 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 70Screen DailyLee MarshallScreen DailyLee MarshallAlthough it breaks no new ground, there’s heart, humour, charm and even a little healthy mischief in a film that re-imagines the rapprochement between the two former foes.
- 70VarietyOwen GleibermanVarietyOwen GleibermanThe Journey, thanks to its buddy-movie structure, is destined to feel a little corny, but the movie gets at something real. It’s a celebration, by two splendid actors, of the art of political theater.
- 70Village VoiceNick SchagerVillage VoiceNick SchagerThe film is buoyed by its sharp, witty lead performances, with Spall’s holier-than-thou imperiousness clashing suitably with Meaney’s more affable obstinacy.
- 63Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreThe Journey‘s wonderful stars — Spall, Meaney, Highmore, a testy Stephens and of course Hurt — make this sentimental saunter go down easily.
- 60Total FilmNeil SmithTotal FilmNeil SmithIrish politics made accessible with the help of a playful script, two fine performances and 11 years of hindsight.
- 60The New York TimesAndy WebsterThe New York TimesAndy WebsterThough the script tilts to the didactic, the performances are absolutely delicious, with Mr. Meaney droll and understated and Mr. Spall fiery and derisive, yet not above a joke.
- 60The Journey is the rare hopeful political film rooted in both reality and very recent history.
- 50Slant MagazineKenji FujishimaSlant MagazineKenji FujishimaPaisley and McGuinness's intellectual back and forth is rendered so compellingly that one wishes the filmmakers didn’t feel a need to resort to a surfeit of momentum-killing plot contrivances.
- 40The TelegraphRobbie CollinThe TelegraphRobbie CollinAlmost every last breath of The Journey is extraordinarily badly written, from the various contrivances that bring the two men together without supervision, to the verbal sabre-clashing that ensues.
- 40The GuardianPeter BradshawThe GuardianPeter BradshawIt’s a strained, dramatically inert and often frankly silly odd-couple bromance fantasy about the Northern Ireland peace process negotiations.