--- title: "Here Comes Mr. Jordan: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/here-comes-mr-jordan/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/here-comes-mr-jordan" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 8 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." --- # Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 8 reviews: 7 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like this one, and they like it for the same reason: the cast. Claude Rains as the celestial Mr. Jordan draws the warmest notices, with James Gleason and Edward Everett Horton close behind, and several reviews note that the supporting players get the biggest laughs. The premise, a boxer taken to heaven by mistake and sent back in another body, is judged sturdy enough to carry a comic fantasy, and Alexander Hall’s brisk direction is credited with keeping it moving. The reservations cluster around the romance. Empire finds the love story saccharine and contrived, and Slant Magazine argues the body-switch device pushes the film towards something milder and more conventional than its sardonic opening promises. The AV Club thinks the lead casting is not quite right. The only mixed review, from Time Out, finds the comedy tinged with fey archness. The spread is narrow, with no negative notices, and the 1941 reviews are the most enthusiastic. ## The New Yorker — Russell Maloney Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 9 August 1941. The critic finds it one of the brightest comedies of the year despite some fantastical plot flaws, lauding the cast and especially Claude Rains as Mr. Jordan. Montgomery, Gleason, and Horton are also highlighted for their contributions to the heavenly mix-up tale. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1941/08/16/1941-08-16-052-tny-cards-000008790) ## The New York Times — T.S. Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 1941. The review calls the film gay, witty, tender and wise, deeming it one of the choicest comic fantasies of the year. It singles out the clever script and performances by Robert Montgomery, James Gleason, and Claude Rains for keeping the comedy grounded in character. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1941/08/08/archives/here-comes-mr-jordan-in-which-robert-montgomery-appears-opens-at.html) ## The AV Club — Mike D'Angelo Rating B+. 11 June 2016. The critic praises the film's reassuring comic fantasy and Claude Rains' sublime paternal performance as Mr. Jordan. The sturdy premise delivers laughs, especially from supporting players like James Gleason, though the lead casting is imperfect. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/neither-warren-beatty-nor-chris-rock-could-improve-upon-1798188078) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1940. The critic praises the film's humorous take on reincarnation and the strong ensemble performances, especially Robert Montgomery, Evelyn Keyes, James Gleason, and Claude Rains. Direction by Alexander Hall keeps the pace lively throughout. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1940/film/reviews/here-comes-mr-jordan-1117791611/) ## Empire — David Parkinson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 6 April 2006. The critic praises the brisk direction by Alexander Hall and the exceptional supporting performances, especially from James Gleason, Claude Rains and Edward Everett Horton. The romantic subplot is noted as occasionally saccharine and contrived. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/comes-mr-jordan-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Clayton Dillard Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2016. The review highlights the film's sardonic treatment of death and its fantasy rules but notes the body-switch device leads to a milder, more conventional love story. The Criterion Blu-ray restoration is praised for its sharp image and solid extras. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/here-comes-mr-jordan/) ## Time Out — TM Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. Mildly engaging fantasy about a boxer sent to heaven by mistake and returned to earth with a guardian angel. Praises the supporting performances but finds the comedy tinged with fey archness. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/here-comes-mr-jordan) ## The Skinny — Ross McIndoe Rating ★★★★. 27 June 2016. The critic praises the film's charming body-swap comedy premise and the way it laboriously explains its rules while delivering an elegant, understated style reminiscent of later classics like It's a Wonderful Life. They single out the broad performances, especially Claude Rains' ethereal composure as the celestial being. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/dvd-reviews/here-comes-mr-jordan) --- © 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/here-comes-mr-jordan.md