--- title: "Something's Gotta Give: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 13 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." --- # Something's Gotta Give (2003): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 13 reviews: 4 positive, 7 mixed, 2 negative. The reviews lean towards qualified enjoyment, with praise concentrated on Diane Keaton and her comic partnership with Jack Nicholson. Keaton’s warmth, sophistication and emotional range earn approval even from critics who find the film wanting elsewhere. The pair’s chemistry is the main point of agreement: enthusiastic notices find their exchanges lively enough to sustain a familiar romantic comedy, while more reserved critics still enjoy the performances. The disagreement concerns how much those performances can carry. Several critics find the plotting slack or overextended, particularly in the final act, and some feel the move towards romantic drama costs the film its comic energy. There is also a split over its familiarity: Eye for Film welcomes its avoidance of romantic clichés, while Variety finds it stereotypical and argues that it patronises the women it claims to empower. Responses range from warm recommendation to firm rejection, with qualified assessments predominating. ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 4/5. 6 February 2004. The review finds the rom-com formulaic but enjoyable, crediting Nancy Meyers with keeping it spiky and engaging. It especially praises the lively comic partnership between Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/somethings-gotta-give-review/) ## Evening Standard — Antonia Quirke Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. Quirke presents the film as a warm tribute to Diane Keaton and her enduring appeal. She singles out Keaton’s amiable presence and Nicholson’s strikingly animalistic performance. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/triumph-of-keatons-heart-7437700.html) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 16 December 2003. Phipps finds the romantic comedy a pleasure, though its plot sometimes hangs slack. He especially praises Diane Keaton’s performance and her chemistry with Jack Nicholson. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/somethings-gotta-give-1798199186) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2004. French finds the romantic comedy likable and a clear improvement on Nancy Meyers's earlier work, though it runs a little long. He especially praises Diane Keaton’s performance, calling her a continuous delight. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Observer_review/0,4267,1143374,00.html) ## Screen Daily — Peter Brunette Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2003. The page identifies this as a review, but its text is unavailable behind a paywall. The critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/somethings-gotta-give/4016469.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2003. The page could not be read, so its verdict cannot be established. The supplied text offers no specific praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/12/movies/film-review-weep-and-the-world-laughs-hysterically.html) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page identifies this as a film review, but the review text is unavailable. No verdict or specific praise or complaint can be established from the available metadata. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/somethings-gotta-give) ## Radio Times — Sloan Freer Rating 3/5. Freer calls it a feel-good romantic comedy and says Nicholson and Keaton show younger performers how it is done. She singles out Keaton’s combination of sophistication and emotional charm. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-9m6qth/somethings-gotta-give/) ## Slant Magazine — Jeremiah Kipp Rating 2/4. 10 December 2003. Kipp finds the romantic comedy initially enjoyable but ultimately overlong and weighed down by generic filmmaking. He praises the chemistry and comic performances of Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, while faulting the drawn-out third act. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/somethings-gotta-give/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2003. Turan finds the film amusing but says its shift into romantic drama drains much of the fun. He praises Nicholson and Keaton’s comic performances, while faulting the convoluted, overextended plot. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-dec-12-et-turan12-story.html) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Thomas finds the romantic comedy entertaining but ultimately contrived and too pleased with itself. He praises the stars’ charm, while criticizing the underwritten supporting roles and the drawn-out final act. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/something-gotta-give-review/) ## Variety — Scott Foundas Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 5 December 2003. Foundas finds the comedy slapdash, stereotypical, and needlessly prolonged, arguing that it panders to the women it claims to empower. He singles out Diane Keaton’s luminous, emotionally complex performance as the film’s saving grace. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2003/film/awards/something-s-gotta-give-2-1200537620/) ## Eye for Film — David Haviland Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 2004. The critic finds the film very enjoyable, though less successful and credible than As Good As It Gets. They praise Nicholson and Keaton’s chemistry and the film’s refreshing avoidance of romantic clichés. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/somethings-gotta-give-film-review-by-david-haviland) --- © 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/somethings-gotta-give.md