--- title: "G.I. Joe: Retaliation: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/g-i-joe-retaliation/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/g-i-joe-retaliation" critics_score: 44 critics_reviews: 21 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." --- # G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013): what the critics said Critics' score 44 from 21 reviews: 2 positive, 7 mixed, 12 negative. Most critics come away unimpressed. Twelve of the twenty-one reviews are negative, and even the kinder ones treat the film as a modest improvement on its predecessor rather than anything more. The praise clusters almost entirely in one place: the ninja fight on a Himalayan cliffside, which reviewers on both sides of the verdict single out as the one sequence with real invention and grace. Beyond that, Jonathan Pryce and Dwayne Johnson earn credit for keeping things lively. The complaints cluster on the script. Reviewers call the plot incomprehensible, the dialogue childish and the tone too solemn for the material; several find the film joyless. The spread is wide, running from reviewers who enjoy it as a knowingly dumb romp to those who find it exhausting. Empire is the outlier on craft, finding Jon M. Chu’s direction lifeless and the action confused, where most critics rate the action as the film’s one reliable strength. ## IndieWire — Todd Gilchrist Rating B-. 27 March 2013. The critic finds the sequel enjoyable and a meaningful improvement over its predecessor, though not a masterpiece. He especially praises Jon M. Chu’s inventive, exciting action choreography and the film’s affectionate use of the franchise’s mythology. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-g-i-joe-retaliation-is-no-masterpiece-but-popcorn-entertainment-that-redeems-the-series-somewhat-100244/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 27 March 2013. The article is identified as a review, but its verdict is unavailable in the paywalled text. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the accessible content. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/gi-joe-retaliation/5053348.article) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The available text does not reveal the critic’s overall verdict. It singles out Bruce Willis for providing comic relief in the hi-tech shoot-em-up. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/movie/154129/g.i.-joe) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2013. The page appears to be a review, but its verdict cannot be verified because the article is inaccessible. No specific element of praise or criticism is available in the supplied text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/29/movies/gi-joe-retaliation-directed-by-jon-m-chu.html) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 63/100 (inferred from the text). The page content is blocked by a browser check, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint from the review is available to identify. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/gi-joe-retaliation-2013) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Rating C. 28 March 2013. Tobias pans the film as a soulless, overstuffed sequel that takes itself too seriously. He praises Chu’s action choreography and especially the Himalayan monastery sequence, but says they cannot redeem the film’s militaristic excesses. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/g-i-joe-retaliation-1798176269) ## Slant Magazine — Glenn Heath Jr. Rating 2/4. 27 March 2013. The review finds the film weighed down by narrative and mostly flavorless action, despite flashes of directorial promise. It singles out the snowy mountain ninja battle as a vivid, graceful set piece. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/g-i-joe-retaliation/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 2/5. The critic dismisses the sequel as a lumbering, plotless adventure. He singles out its cheesy one-liners, perfunctory battles and bland martial arts as flaws. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-wkhqqg/gi-joe-retaliation/) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 2/5. 25 March 2013. The review is negative, suggesting the film feels as though it could have been written by a seven-year-old. Its complaint is the childish quality of the writing. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/gi-joe-retaliation) ## Total Film — Joshua Winning Rating 2/5. 25 March 2013. Winning gives the film a poor verdict, finding its story and dialogue weak despite its energetic action. He singles out a Himalaya fight scene as a standout, while praising Jonathan Pryce as the surprise highlight. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/g-i-joe-retaliation-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 27 March 2013. McCarthy finds the film a noisy, juvenile action spectacle that may satisfy its target audience but will alienate many others. He praises the visually inventive ninja cliffside sequence while criticizing the gun fetishism and ineffective 3D. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/gi-joe-retaliation-film-review-431310/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 28 March 2013. The critic finds the sequel spectacular but weakly told, with little drama. They fault its incomprehensible plotting and reliance on CGI action instead of a decent screenplay. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/gi-joe-retaliation-3d-film-review-8552765.html) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 27 March 2013. Chang finds the film joyless, derivative, and largely devoid of personality, despite some improvements over its predecessor. He singles out the Himalayan ninja fight for its vertiginous visual flair. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-g-i-joe-retaliation-1200329541/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 28 March 2013. Ebiri finds the sequel disappointingly flat and less entertaining than the first film. He praises the Ninja Mountain action sequence as an electrifying highlight. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2013/03/movie-review-gi-joe-retaliation.html) ## Empire — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 25 March 2013. Richards finds the sequel self-serious and disappointing, lacking the simple fun its premise calls for. He particularly criticizes Chu’s lifeless direction and the action sequences, which he calls confused and flailing. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/g-joe-retaliation-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 27 March 2013. Sharkey finds the film a convoluted, overstuffed mess that its action and delayed 3-D conversion cannot rescue. She praises Jonathan Pryce as a steady source of comic relief, while noting that the humor provides only limited redemption. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-mar-27-la-et-mn-gi-joe-retaliation-20130328-story.html) ## Den of Geek — Nick Allen Rating 3.5/5. 29 March 2013. The critic finds the film an entertaining, knowingly dumb action romp. The mountain-side fight stands out as its most inspired action sequence. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/gi-joe-retaliation-review/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 27 March 2013. The headline characterizes the film as imperfect but entertaining enough to somewhat redeem the series. It singles out its popcorn entertainment value as a strength. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-g-i-joe-retaliation-is-no-masterpiece-but-popcorn-entertainment-that-redeems-the-series-somewhat-20130327/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2013. Reynolds finds the sequel better than its predecessor but still a soulless, messy spectacle. He singles out Dwayne Johnson’s charisma as the film’s saving grace, while criticizing the other characters as underwritten or forgettable. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a467411/gi-joe-retaliation-review-dwayne-johnson-cant-save-action-sequel/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 27 March 2013. The critic finds the film exhausting and shallow, with relentless action that fails to generate excitement. They single out Walton Goggins’s amusing performance as a rare bright spot. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/gi-joe-retaliation-review-saturday-morning-cartoon-writ-large-82726/) ## Eye for Film — David Graham Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 26 March 2013. The critic finds the sequel incoherent, poorly paced and largely joyless, a disappointing follow-up to the first film. The preposterous abseiling mountainside battle stands out as a rare entertaining set-piece. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/gi-joe-retaliation-2013-film-review-by-david-graham) --- © 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/g-i-joe-retaliation.md