--- title: "C'mon C'mon: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/cmon-cmon/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/cmon-cmon" critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 25 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." --- # C'mon C'mon (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 74 from 25 reviews: 19 positive, 6 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to C’mon C’mon, praising Mike Mills’s attention to everyday family life and the effort adults and children make to understand one another. Praise centres on Joaquin Phoenix’s gentle, grounded performance, Woody Norman’s natural presence and the convincing connection between them. Gaby Hoffmann’s small acts of maternal care also draw appreciation, while Robbie Ryan’s black-and-white cinematography is widely admired for its intimacy. The reservations concern how much shaping this gentle material needs: several reviews find the film meandering, overlong or too fond of its flashbacks, interviews and voice-over. Jesse’s eccentricities strike some as convincing and others as overworked. The spread runs from enthusiastic affection to frustration, with The Guardian finding emotional contrivance and self-conscious monochrome imagery where others see sincerity. Deadline is notably cooler about the drama’s low-key approach, though it still praises Ryan’s photography; even the less persuaded reviews tend to find something to value. ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 88/100 (inferred from the text). 17 November 2021. Brody finds the film tender, formally inventive and deeply affecting, praising its intricate use of sound, memory and documentary elements. He especially celebrates Woody Norman’s performance, while noting that the young interview subjects could have been shown longer. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/cmon-cmon-reviewed-a-child-star-is-born) ## The i Paper — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 December 2021. Newland finds the film quietly profound and moving without becoming sentimental. She particularly praises Phoenix’s gentle, understated performance and the natural warmth among the three leads. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/cmon-cmon-review-joaquin-phoenix-film-movie-gaby-hoffman-woody-norman-1331411) ## Vulture — Angelica Jade Bastién Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 2021. The critic finds the film tender and humane, calling it a career-best performance for Joaquin Phoenix. She praises Phoenix’s warmth and the film’s sensory craft, while faulting its limited perspective on Paul’s mental illness. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/cmon-cmon-movie-review-joaquin-phoenix-at-career-best.html) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 4/5. 3 December 2021. O’Sullivan finds that the film rises above its familiar premise to offer an unusual, affecting portrait of family life. She especially praises Woody Norman’s vivid performance and Robbie Ryan’s cinematography. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/cmon-cmon-review-joaquin-phoenix-movie-b969428.html) ## Little White Lies — Charles Bramesco Rating 4/4/4. 30 November 2021. The review is warmly positive about the film’s gentle family drama. It praises the way Mills finds emotional meaning in everyday moments and attentive listening. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/cmon-cmon) ## Radio Times — Kevin Harley Rating 4/5. The review is favorable toward Mike Mills’ understated film, praising Joaquin Phoenix’s aptitude for subtler material. It finds Jesse’s quirks somewhat overstated. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-3pi5yy/cmon-cmon/) ## Sight and Sound — BFI Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 2 December 2021. The review finds Mills’s film a tender, thoughtful tribute to parenthood that makes one family’s healing feel universal. It particularly praises Gaby Hoffmann’s nuanced performance and the portrait of a mother’s love conveyed through small acts of care. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/cmon-cmon-a-quiet-tribute-parenthood) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2021. Festival review. Rooney finds the film warmly insightful and emotionally satisfying, with its family relationships portrayed with affection and authenticity. He especially praises Woody Norman’s natural performance and Robbie Ryan’s intimate black-and-white cinematography. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/joaquin-phoenix-in-mike-mills-cmon-cmon-1235005241/) ## Time Out — Zach Long Rating 4/5. 17 November 2021. The review is positive about Mike Mills’s gentle, unconventional story. It singles out Joaquin Phoenix’s delightful performance and the film’s bond between children and adults. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/cmon-cmon-2021) ## Los Angeles Times — Jessica Kiang Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 18 November 2021. Kiang finds the film an indulgent but compassionate and moving exploration of attention, family, and growing closer. She especially praises Woody Norman’s authentic performance and Robbie Ryan’s gorgeous black-and-white cinematography. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-11-18/cmon-cmon-review-joaquin-phoenix-mike-mills) ## Empire — Hanna Flint Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 December 2021. Flint finds the drama moving and warmly acted, especially praising the natural chemistry between Phoenix and Norman. She also finds its flashbacks, interview footage and voice-over overindulgent, leaving the film feeling protracted. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/cmon-cmon/) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating B-. 2 September 2021. Festival review. Ehrlich finds the film sweet and empathetic but also meandering and dramatically diffuse. He praises Joaquin Phoenix’s natural performance and the tender bond between Johnny and Jesse. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/cmon-cmon-review-1234661731/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 September 2021. The review presents the film as an unsentimental exploration of strained family dynamics. It singles out Joaquin Phoenix’s performance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/cmon-cmon-review/5163570.article) ## The AV Club — Mike D'Angelo Rating B-. 16 November 2021. D’Angelo finds the family drama empathetic and touching, though Jesse’s eccentric behavior often feels implausible. He especially praises Joaquin Phoenix’s unusually relaxed, grounded performance. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/joaquin-phoenix-is-unusually-grounded-in-the-family-dra-1848067642) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2021. Debruge finds the family drama poignant and quietly profound, though less entertaining than it could have been. He especially praises Woody Norman’s natural performance and Jesse’s convincingly genuine eccentricities. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/cmon-cmon-review-joaquin-phoenix-1235054348/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The page content is unavailable, so the critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be established. The supplied text contains only a browser-check message. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cmon-cmon-movie-review-2021) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 18 November 2021. The page could not be accessed, so its critical verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint is available in the supplied text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/18/movies/cmon-cmon-review-joaquin-phoenix.html) ## Slant Magazine — Keith Watson Rating 2.5/4. 11 November 2021. Watson finds the film admirably resistant to melodrama but ultimately shapeless and sometimes spiritless. He praises the naturalistic interplay between Joaquin Phoenix and Woody Norman, while criticizing the drab visual atmosphere. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/cmon-cmon-review-mike-mills-joaquin-phoenix/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Rating 3/5. 8 October 2021. Bradshaw finds the film polished and emotionally contrived despite its warmth and craft. He praises the performances, especially Gaby Hoffmann’s, while criticizing the monochrome imagery as overly self-congratulatory. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/oct/08/cmon-cmon-review-joaquin-phoenix) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 18 November 2021. Festival review. The critic finds the film soulful, truthful, and compassionately hopeful without resorting to false optimism. They especially praise Woody Norman’s performance and the trust-building interplay between him and Joaquin Phoenix. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/cmon-cmon-film-review-joaquin-phoenix-mike-mills/) ## Paste — Natalia Keogan Rating 8.9/10. 5 October 2021. Keogan finds the film hopeful and emotionally sincere, arguing that it takes children’s anxieties and perspectives seriously. She especially praises the natural chemistry between Joaquin Phoenix and Woody Norman, alongside Norman’s playful, unforced performance. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/mike-mills/cmon-cmon-review) ## /Film — Hoai-Tran Bui Rating 8.5 out of 10. 19 November 2021. Bui finds the film gentle, moving, and quietly affecting, despite occasional pretension and a few overly precocious moments. She especially praises Joaquin Phoenix’s warm, grounded performance and his natural connection with Woody Norman. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/665521/cmon-cmon-review-joaquin-phoenix-is-a-natural-in-mike-mills-gentle-family-drama/) ## Consequence — Jesse Hassenger Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 4 October 2021. Festival review. The critic finds the film too open-hearted and generous to miss, despite occasional navel-gazing. He especially praises Joaquin Phoenix’s warm, convincing performance and his remarkable chemistry with Woody Norman. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2021/10/cmon-cmon-review-nyff/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 2 September 2021. Festival review. The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint from the review can be verified. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/cmon-cmon-joaquin-phoenix-mike-mills-telluride-review-20210902/) ## Deadline — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2021. Festival review. McCarthy finds the film intelligent and insightful but ultimately low-key and frustrating. He singles out Robbie Ryan’s black-and-white cinematography as a constant pleasure. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2021/09/cmon-cmon-movie-review-joaquin-phoenix-mike-mills-a24-1234830178/) --- © 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/cmon-cmon.md