--- title: "Captain Fantastic: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/captain-fantastic/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/captain-fantastic" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 28 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Captain Fantastic (2016): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 28 reviews: 13 positive, 9 mixed, 6 negative. Most critics lean warm on Captain Fantastic, and almost all of them land on the same thing: Viggo Mortensen. Review after review credits him with holding the film together as Ben, a father both devoted and overbearing, and with keeping the character sympathetic even when his choices are not. The young cast, George MacKay in particular, draw repeated praise, as does the believable family dynamic between them. Many also find it funny and moving. The split is on what the film does with its premise. The reservations cluster around smugness: a sizeable minority argue it idealises Ben, lets him off too lightly and tidies its ending. The spread is wide, from a full-marks notice at Den of Geek to outright dismissal at Slant Magazine and Consequence, with the Los Angeles Times faulting it for sidelining Leslie and the film’s women. Even the harshest reviews keep Mortensen out of the firing line. ## The Guardian — Mark Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2016. Kermode finds the film thrilling, poignant and life-affirming, while keeping its portrait of Ben’s parenting deliberately complex. He particularly praises the performances, landscape cinematography and a song sequence that moved him to tears. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/11/captain-fantastic-review-viggo-mortensen) ## The i Paper — Matthew Turner Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2016. Turner finds the film funny, thoughtful and moving, anchored by an awards-worthy performance. He especially praises Viggo Mortensen’s charismatic acting, though he says the finale feels muted. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/captain-fantastic-viggo-mortensen-oscar-20981) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2016. Festival review. Debruge finds the family drama emotionally gripping, polished, and relatable, praising its evenhanded treatment of unconventional parenting. He singles out Viggo Mortensen’s sensitive performance and the film’s willingness to embrace genuine emotion. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/captain-fantastic-film-review-sundance-1201687010/) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 18 August 2016. O’Hara finds the film a thoughtful, engaging portrait of an unconventional family encountering the wider world. She singles out Viggo Mortensen’s compelling performance as its caring but dictatorial father. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/captain-fantastic-review/) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Rating 4/5. 5 September 2016. The review finds the film a heartfelt, funny road movie that thoughtfully probes the limits of unconventional parenting. It praises Viggo Mortensen’s performance for holding the ensemble together while conveying a father whose devotion can work against his children’s interests. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/captain-fantastic-review/) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 9 September 2016. O'Sullivan finds plenty to love in the film despite a few smug moments. She praises its refusal to reduce Ben to either a deluded tyrant or a principled pioneer, highlighting Mortensen's performance and the script's complexity. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/captain-fantastic-film-review-he-may-not-be-a-superhero-but-viggo-mortensen-makes-for-one-kooky-dad-a3340936.html) ## Little White Lies — Ed Frankl Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. Frankl finds the film adventurous and tender, though not wholly original. He particularly praises Mortensen’s performance and the believable family dynamic created by the cast. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/festivals/captain-fantastic-first-look-review) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 2016. Edelstein finds the film exuberant and engaging, while valuing its unresolved questions about parenting and civilization. He singles out the children’s performances and Frank Langella’s dramatic weight for praise. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/review-captain-fantastics-wild-radical-ride.html) ## The New York Times — A. O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 8 July 2016. The review gives the film a generally positive but qualified verdict. It singles out Viggo Mortensen’s performance and the film’s thoughtful questions about parenting and idealism. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/08/movies/captain-fantastic-review.html) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. I could not verify what the critic praised or criticized. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/sundance-2016-sing-street-complete-unknown-captain-fantastic) ## Screen Daily — Anthony Kaufman Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 24 January 2016. The review’s verdict is unavailable because the article text is behind a paywall. The visible portion does not reveal what the critic praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/captain-fantastic-review/5099249.article) ## The AV Club — A.A. Dowd Rating C+. 7 July 2016. Dowd finds the film too tidy and sentimental, using its unusual family setup mainly for familiar road-movie comedy. He praises Viggo Mortensen’s nuanced performance, especially his ability to make Ben both compelling and occasionally unsympathetic. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/captain-fantastic-is-a-road-movie-not-half-as-brainy-as-1798188292) ## Radio Times — Damon Wise Rating 3/5. Wise finds the film spirited and feel-good, but says it does not hold up to much scrutiny. He singles out its appealing family dynamic and overarching message as strengths. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-fl23jc/captain-fantastic/) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 3/5. 4 September 2016. The critic presents it as a domestic drama with an offbeat, wayward spirit. The review singles out the soulful quality Viggo Mortensen brings to the film. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/captain-fantastic) ## IndieWire — Russ Fischer Rating C. 24 January 2016. Festival review. Fischer finds the film well-made and its cast strong, but says its smugness and idealized portrayal of Ben undermine its themes. He particularly praises Viggo Mortensen’s performance and the children’s ensemble. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/sundance-review-captain-fantastic-starring-viggo-mortensen-frank-langella-and-kathryn-hahn-88196/) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 5 August 2016. Brody finds the film skillfully constructed but not especially good, criticizing its schematic approach and lack of grounding in practical experience. He praises the strong dramatic backbone and the cast’s performances, which make the script leap from the screen. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-counter-superhero-calibrations-of-captain-fantastic) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 7 July 2016. Chang finds the film charming and well acted at first, but ultimately sentimental, self-satisfied, and less interesting than it seems. He particularly praises Viggo Mortensen’s compelling performance while faulting the film for sidelining Leslie and its female characters. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-captain-fantastic-review-20160704-snap-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Keith Watson Rating 1/4. 15 July 2016. Watson argues that the film trivializes its radical premise beneath contrived quirk and feel-good plotting. He praises Viggo Mortensen for giving Ben a convincing emotional core, while criticizing the film’s shallow social critique. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/captain-fantastic/) ## Den of Geek — Rob Leane Rating 5/5. 6 September 2016. Leane gives the film an emphatic endorsement, calling it a touching and entertaining exploration of family. He particularly praises Viggo Mortensen’s charismatic performance and the strong young cast. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/captain-fantastic-review-2/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The critic calls the film one of Cannes’s funniest and sweetest, praising its humor and compelling family story. They single out the young cast’s performances, while faulting the story for choosing compromise over a more unconventional ending. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/captain-fantastic-review/) ## The Skinny — Tom Charles Rating ★★★★. 8 September 2016. The review finds the drama smart and engaging, with an unorthodox approach to parenting at its center. It particularly praises Viggo Mortensen and George MacKay, whose performances make the reviewer wish the road trip lasted longer. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/captain-fantastic) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 January 2016. Festival review. The critic is delighted by the film, while reserving final judgment until a second viewing. They single out Viggo Mortensen’s nuanced performance as a tough, loving, and grieving father. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/captain-fantastic-review-viggo-mortensen-george-mackay-frank-langella/) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). The review finds the film affecting and provocative despite some flaws. It praises the complexity of Ben Cash, while criticizing the sitcom-like humor and tidy ending. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-various-artists-16561-303731) ## Paste — Melissa Weller Rating 6.0/10. 15 July 2016. Weller finds the film’s performances and direction engaging, but says its story loses substance as it progresses. She particularly praises Viggo Mortensen and George MacKay while faulting the contrived, unresolved family drama. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/captain-fantastic) ## The Playlist — Russ Fischer Rating C. 5 July 2016. Festival review. The critic finds the film smug and dishonest, ultimately undermining its ideas about grief. He praises Mortensen’s performance and the young cast, while faulting the film for idealizing Ben and dismissing those outside his family. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/captain-fantastic-starring-viggo-mortensen-dishonest-fantasy-review-20160705/) ## Collider — Adam Chitwood Rating D+. 25 January 2016. Festival review. Chitwood finds the film naïve and frustrating, despite its compelling premise. He praises Viggo Mortensen’s nuanced performance but criticizes the film for abandoning its challenges to the parents’ choices. [Read the review](https://collider.com/captain-fantastic-review-sundance/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2016. Wilkinson finds the film overworked and uneven, with caricatured characters obscuring its story of grief. She particularly faults the succession of unsatisfying endings. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/captain-fantastic-2016-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## Consequence — Dominick Suzanne-Mayer Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 6 July 2016. The critic finds the film frustrating and obnoxious, arguing that it turns a promising idea into a self-congratulatory rant. He praises Viggo Mortensen’s performance for grounding Ben’s cruelty in scarred vulnerability. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2016/07/film-review-captain-fantastic/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/captain-fantastic.md