The reviews are sharply divided on Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, with a slight majority finding its swashbuckling pleasures insufficient. Praise clusters around Alan Rickman’s extravagant Sheriff of Nottingham, whose comic energy appeals to enthusiasts and detractors alike. Morgan Freeman also earns favourable mentions. The more enthusiastic critics enjoy the action, irreverence and entertainment value, with Radio Times singling out Kevin Reynolds’s imaginative staging and roving camera as reasons the familiar adventure works.
The divide concerns whether those pleasures survive the storytelling. Detractors find the film muddled, overlong or dutiful, with contemporary social themes awkwardly imposed on the legend. Kevin Costner’s lead performance draws recurring criticism, even from supporters: Den of Geek enjoys the film despite considering him miscast. The spread is wide rather than cautiously mixed. What some critics accept as spirited disorder leaves others bored, with Rickman often providing the chief relief.