--- title: "The Adventures of Tintin: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-tintin/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-tintin" critics_score: 65 critics_reviews: 26 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." --- # The Adventures of Tintin (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 65 from 26 reviews: 13 positive, 7 mixed, 6 negative. The reviews lean positive on The Adventures of Tintin, with praise clustering around Spielberg’s inventive action sequences and the detailed animation. Supporters find a lively adaptation of Hergé’s comics, admiring the use of light, shadow and 3-D, as well as the elaborate chases. Andy Serkis’s Captain Haddock is a recurring favourite for his warmth and comedy, while Snowy also earns affection. Even several less enthusiastic critics acknowledge the technical skill. The spread is wide, however, and the main disagreement concerns whether all that movement gives anyone reason to care. Reservations centre on Tintin’s apparent invulnerability, thin storytelling and action that feels mechanical rather than dangerous. The Guardian finds the waxy animation an obstacle to emotional involvement; The Wrap goes further, judging the action chaotic and poorly paced. For admirers, the spectacle supplies the fun; for detractors, it cannot compensate for characters who fail to engage. ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 2011. Edelstein gives the film an ecstatic verdict, saying Spielberg’s animation turns him into a slapstick-action wizard. He especially praises the constantly moving camera and the elaborate, exhilarating action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2011/12/movie-review-the-bigger-better-adventures-of-tintin.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2011. Turan finds the film a delightful, high-spirited adventure and a great deal of fun. He especially praises how the animation and 3-D bring Hergé’s vivid visual style to life. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-dec-21-la-et-adventures-of-tintin-20111221-story.html) ## Variety — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2011. Felperin finds it a thrilling, faithful adventure that should appeal beyond Tintin devotees. She particularly praises the richly detailed animation and its artful use of light and shadow. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/the-adventures-of-tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn-1117946357/) ## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson Rating B+. 20 December 2011. Robinson finds the film an effective, entertaining Spielberg action adventure despite its occasional uncanny visuals and an underwhelming climax. She praises the clearly staged setpieces and the lively contrast between Tintin and Captain Haddock. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-adventures-of-tintin-1798170925) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). 10 October 2007. Nathan gives the film a strongly positive verdict, praising its joyful, faithful translation of Hergé’s world into kinetic digital adventure. He especially singles out the visually inventive sea-battle sequence and Andy Serkis’s warm, comic Captain Haddock. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/adventures-tintin-secret-unicorn-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Jordan Mintzer Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2011. Mintzer finds the film a successful, visually dazzling adventure that revives Spielberg’s old-school swashbuckling style. He especially praises the inventive action sequences and Andy Serkis’s memorable Captain Haddock, while noting that Tintin himself can feel less interesting than his dog. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/adventures-tintin-secret-unicorn-film-249116/) ## Time Out — Keith Uhlich Rating 4/5. 19 December 2011. The review presents the film as breathlessly entertaining. It singles out its 3-D motion-capture animation as part of that appeal. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-adventures-of-tintin) ## Slant Magazine — Bill Weber Rating 3/4. 4 December 2011. Weber finds the film a sprightly, entertaining adventure, though its treasure quest lacks substance and the ending feels abrupt. He especially praises the kinetic action sequences and their polished, lively animation. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-adventures-of-tintin/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page is identifiable as a review of the 2011 film, but its review text is unavailable. I cannot verify the critic’s verdict or what the review singles out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-adventures-of-tintin-2011) ## Screen Daily — Mike Goodridge Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2011. The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It provides no readable praise or complaint to single out. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/-the-adventures-of-tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn/5033372.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so the critic's verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint can be verified from the supplied text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/movies/the-adventures-of-tintin-by-steven-spielberg-review.html) ## Total Film — Matthew Leyland Rating 3/5. 14 October 2011. Leyland finds the film overstuffed and short on danger, though not among Spielberg’s biggest failures. He praises a dizzying continuous-shot chase sequence and Snowy’s comic charm. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-adventures-of-tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn-review/) ## IndieWire — Alison Willmore Rating C. 21 December 2011. Willmore finds the film technically impressive but hollow, with spectacle replacing joy. She praises the animation’s carefully constructed settings, while faulting the action for feeling like choreography without consequence. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-the-adventures-of-tintin-is-all-hollow-spectacle-no-joy-254868/) ## Sight and Sound — David Jays Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2011. Jays finds the film visually sumptuous and energetically staged, but not fully gripping. He praises the richly modelled animation while faulting Tintin’s invulnerability and the unsatisfying ending. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/reviews/releases/adventures-of-tintin-secret-of-the-unicorn.php) ## The Guardian — Henry Barnes Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). Barnes finds the film fast-paced and well cast, but says its animation makes it hard to care about Tintin. He singles out the waxy animation as the main flaw. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/series/reelreview+the-adventures-of-tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 2011. Brody finds the film a dazzling technical virtuoso performance that nevertheless feels emotionally hollow. He praises its motion-capture animation for making the characters tactile and human, while wishing the film had more strangeness and thrills. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/beneath-the-skin-of-tintin) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film disappointing despite a promising start, ultimately calling its action bland and its storytelling conservative. They praise the performance-capture animation and single out Captain Haddock’s characterization and Andy Serkis’s performance as highlights. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-adventures-of-tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn-review-7427319.html) ## Collider — Andre Dellamorte Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 24 March 2012. The critic calls the film massively entertaining and one of 2011’s most undervalued movies. He especially praises Spielberg’s inventive, technically ambitious action filmmaking. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-adventures-of-tintin-blu-ray-review/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2011. The critic calls the film top-notch entertainment and a lively, visually sophisticated adventure. They single out Spielberg’s inventive action sequences and Andy Serkis’s performance as Captain Haddock for praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a345781/the-adventures-of-tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn-review/) ## Eye for Film — Paul Logan Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 November 2011. Logan finds the film a charming, entertaining adventure and a welcome return to form for Spielberg. He especially praises its spectacular set pieces and lively motion-capture performances, singling out Snowy for the best comic and action moments. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-adventures-of-tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn-film-review-by-paul-logan) ## Paste — Michael Burgin Rating 9.1. 22 December 2011. Burgin praises the film as a successful, energetic adaptation that captures the spirit of Hergé’s comics. He singles out its meticulous craft, strong voice performances, and effective use of 3D and motion capture. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-adventures-of-tintin) ## Den of Geek — James Peaty Rating 4/5. 14 October 2011. Peaty considers the film an exuberant return to form for Spielberg, despite minor pacing issues. He especially praises Andy Serkis’s Captain Haddock and the film’s visually impressive motion-capture work. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-adventures-of-tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Ben Mortimer Rating 3/5. 18 October 2011. The critic finds the film entertaining and technically impressive, but ultimately mechanical and less effective than it should be. They praise the spectacular animated action while criticizing the characters’ failure to inspire emotional connection. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-adventures-of-tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn-review/) ## The Skinny — Keir Roper-Caldbeck Rating ★★★. 2 March 2012. Roper-Caldbeck finds the film visually warm and often thrilling, but says its elaborate CGI sequences can feel heartless. He singles out the storm-battered plane sequence as especially exciting and funny. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2011. The critic finds the film a muddled, disappointing misfire. They single out the uncanny character animation and chaotic, poorly paced action as major flaws. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/tintin-should-have-stayed-two-dimensional-33822/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2011. The headline gives a strongly negative verdict, describing the film as hollow spectacle without joy. It faults the spectacle for feeling empty rather than identifying a redeeming element. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-the-adventures-of-tintin-is-all-hollow-spectacle-no-joy-20111221/) --- © 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/the-adventures-of-tintin.md