--- title: "Me and Orson Welles: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/me-and-orson-welles/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/me-and-orson-welles" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 15 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." --- # Me and Orson Welles (2008): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 15 reviews: 9 positive, 4 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics find Me and Orson Welles an enjoyable backstage drama, with praise clustering around Christian McKay’s portrayal of Welles. His voice, charisma and forceful ego convince even several reviewers who find the surrounding film disappointing. The theatrical staging is another strength: the reviews credit its precision and attention to performance, while some admire the period detail. The warmer responses find charm and energy in familiar backstage conventions. Reservations centre on the conventional coming-of-age story, uneven pace and a romance that some find unconvincing. The spread is fairly wide, from enthusiastic approval to complaints of blandness, though McKay remains a point of agreement. Zac Efron divides opinion more sharply: Digital Spy welcomes a change of pace for him, while Variety finds him miscast. Other reviews fault the writing of his role, suggesting that the young protagonist has too little to do beside the commanding Welles. ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2008. Kim Newman praises the film as a satisfying and exhilarating backstage drama. He singles out Christian McKay’s uncanny, charismatic portrayal of Orson Welles. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/orson-welles-review/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film entertaining and says it handles its serious intent well, despite lacking the depth to explore Welles’s self-destruction. Christian McKay’s restrained, convincing portrayal of Welles is singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/me-and-orson-welles-shows-the-making-of-a-genius-7417754.html) ## The Guardian — Rob Mackie Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 30 April 2010. Mackie finds the film enjoyable and praises Christian McKay’s portrayal of Orson Welles. He singles out McKay’s convincing resemblance, voice, charisma and ego. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/apr/30/me-and-orson-welles-dvd-review) ## The New Yorker — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 22 November 2009. Denby finds the film spirited and charming, though its coming-of-age plot is conventional. He especially praises Christian McKay’s portrayal of Welles and the theatrical intelligence behind the production scenes. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/11/30/wild-nights) ## IndieWire — Jeff Reichert Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 2009. Reichert finds the film winning and praises Linklater’s ability to revive familiar backstage-comedy conventions through careful execution. He particularly applauds the precise, rhythmic staging of the film’s abridged opening-night performance of Julius Caesar. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-life-on-the-stage-richard-linklaters-me-and-orson-welles-246165/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2008. Festival review. Honeycutt finds the film appealing but aimed at a niche art-house audience, with a slow start. He particularly praises Christian McKay’s uncanny performance as the young Orson Welles. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/me-orson-welles-125181/) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2008. Festival review. McCarthy finds the film agreeable and reasonably convincing, though it lacks energy and Zac Efron feels miscast. He singles out Christian McKay’s impersonation of Orson Welles as the film’s indisputable highlight. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/me-and-orson-welles-1200470866/) ## The New York Times — A. O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 25 November 2009. The page content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/movies/25orson.html) ## Time Out Rating 3/5. 25 November 2009. The critic gives the film a three-star verdict. The review text is unavailable, so no specific praise or complaint can be identified. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/me-and-orson-welles) ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Rating C. 24 November 2009. Rabin finds the film a disappointing, bland coming-of-age story that only comes alive when Christian McKay takes center stage. He praises McKay’s charismatic, appropriately theatrical portrayal of Orson Welles, while criticizing the leads’ lack of chemistry and the film’s overdone performances. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/me-and-orson-welles-1798207544) ## Slant Magazine — Andrew Schenker Rating 2/4. 22 November 2009. Schenker finds the film largely unenlightening and says Zac Efron is too bland to carry it. He praises the meticulously recreated period design and two inventive performance sequences, especially the opening-night Julius Caesar production. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/me-and-orson-welles/) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 25 November 2009. Sharkey finds the film engaging in places but says it never quite recovers from Welles’ overpowering presence. She praises Christian McKay’s commanding performance and Claire Danes’ effortless acting, while criticizing Zac Efron’s underdeveloped role. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-25-la-et-orson25-2009nov25-story.html) ## Radio Times — Adam Smith Rating 2/5. The review is negative, saying the screenplay and direction ill-serve Zac Efron. It particularly criticizes how the film handles his performance as a teen star. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-jjxoxh/me-and-orson-welles/) ## Paste — Robert Davis Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2009. Davis finds the film invigorating, though its young protagonist can feel passive and tiresome. He especially praises Christian McKay’s uncanny, magnetic portrayal of Orson Welles. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/orson-welles/citizen-mckay) ## Digital Spy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 November 2009. The review finds the film an impressive, if slow-burning, change of pace for Zac Efron, with some muddled plotting and an unconvincing romance. It especially praises Christian McKay’s portrayal of Welles and Linklater’s detailed staging of the theater production. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a180587/me-and-orson-welles/) --- © 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/me-and-orson-welles.md