The Critic Review – An Excellent McKellen Cannot Lift A Middling Thriller

Follow us on Google News

Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed

The career of Ian McKellen has often been filtered through his fantastical performances. The stage legend rose to incredible heights in British films until his roles inThe Lord of the RingsandX-Menmade him a household name.The Criticlooks to cash in on some of the goodwill of McKellen’s earlier performances. In the same vein asMr. HolmesandGods & Monsters, McKellen once again shines as a man wrestling with age. Unfortunately,The Criticproves exceptionally thin outside of his performance.

The Critic stars Ian McKellan.

The Critic– The Plot

Set in 1934 London, theater critic Jimmy Erskine (McKellen) feels unstoppable. However, when the ownership of the paper turns to David Brooke (Mark Strong), for the first time in years Erskine could be out of a job. His writing conflicts with the owner’s personal feelings towards actress Nina Land (Gemma Arterton). Additionally, Erskine’s status as a gay man in 1930s London brings him in direct conflict with laws around same-sex relationships. To secure his job for the future, Erskine reaches out to Land, striking a bargain to provide her good reviews in exchange for wooing Brooke. However, Erskine’s plan quickly goes awry.

The Criticreaches its highs on McKellen’s strengths.

It might be boring to rave about McKellen, but he’s one of the few actors who consistently turns in work of this caliber. For an actor with only two career Oscar nominations, McKellen continues to showcase his ability to create tragic but ambitious characters with few peers. The actor has often sung the praises of Hopkins and Stewart for their work in dramatic showcases. However, McKellen has always found a specific tone that separates him from his peers.

McKellen imbues Erskine with paranoia and righteous indignation for those around him. It’s not only the actors and actresses he believes are beneath him. It’s the public at large. This self-aggrandizing nature and internalized belief in his own talent could easily tip the wrong way. In McKellen’s hands, it’s a nuanced performance. Yes, McKellen could turn in a similar role with some minor adjustments, but few actors could match his combination of wit, menace, and entitlement.

The Critic stars Ian McKellan and Gemma Arterton

Unfortunately, there’s little else going on inThe Critic.

Yes, McKellen’s performance soars. However, the rest ofThe Criticcannot keep up with his turn. Arterton is fine but does little to elevate the character. Leslie Manville shows up but feels wildly underutilized inThe Critic. Her presence is more distracting, as she never gets the moment you assume is coming up. Strong also turns in performances like this one with regularity. There are moments of uncertainty that Strong elevates, but he’s not the superior talent that McKellen is to classify this as an exceptional performance. Ben Barnes tends towards actively bad, partly because he’s asked to overplay his character’s emotions. It feels way too modern and out of place for the era.

One can argue the lone other bright spot ofThe Criticis Alfred Enoch. TheHarry PotterandHow to Get Away with Murderalum proves interesting in limited screen time. With a larger role, Enoch likely steals the show. However, with only a couple sequences of note, he mostly finds himself camouflaging into the background.

The Critic stars Gemma Arterton

Director Anand Tucker does not quite navigate the thriller aspects of the story well. It’s not clear that the movie needs to trend this way but instead feels like it’s following a trend. It feels exceptionally low-stakes afterSaltburnandKnives Outperformed similar tricks, though Tucker does add some visual filmmaking tricks to helpThe Criticstand out. Some interesting camera angles and blocking help raise the excitement. However, it does not do enough to sell the tone Anand reaches for.

Should you seeThe Critic?

It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but if you enjoy a few other films, this might be more in your wheelhouse. In many ways,The Criticis taking a spiritual successor approach toMr. HolmesandGods and Monsters. It addresses many of the same themes of those movies and does so well. Additionally, fans ofThe Duke,Living, orThe Miracle Clubmay find some similarities.

The Criticshowcases more tension than those stories, but the lead performance can only be matched by Bill Nighy’s brilliant turn.The Criticshoots for much of the same crowd, and if it can connect, it stands a chance to be a hit. It’s a little below average for us, butThe Criticwill assuredly have its fans.

The Critic Review – An Excellent McKellen Cannot Lift A Middling Thriller

The Criticreleases June 08, 2025. Falco Ink and Greenwich Entertainment distribute.