Most critics respond warmly to Good Vibrations, finding an energetic, hopeful biopic about Terri Hooley’s music-promotion work amid Belfast’s Troubles. Praise centres on Richard Dormer, whose charismatic performance gives the film much of its warmth and momentum. The reviews also value its sense of Belfast’s music scene and its understanding of how music can matter personally and politically, with the musical sequences drawing particular enthusiasm.
The spread is fairly wide, though even the less persuaded critics tend to admire Dormer. Reservations concern familiar musical-biopic plotting, uneven emphasis and occasional excess length. Time Out remains positive despite finding the genre clichés conspicuous, while Total Film questions the sidelining of Hooley’s neglect of his family. Variety is the clearest dissent, finding that the familiar trajectory and the central character’s contradictions weigh down the film despite its energy and convincing period atmosphere.