--- title: "The Lady in the Van: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 18 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 Lady in the Van (2015): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 18 reviews: 7 positive, 7 mixed, 4 negative. The reviews split almost down the middle, with a slight lean towards approval, and on one point there is no argument at all: Maggie Smith. Every critic who reaches a verdict praises her Miss Shepherd, mostly for comic irascibility that gives way to something sadder, and several call her the main reason to watch. Those who like the film find it a warm, sharp comedy about an unlikely bond that deepens as it goes. The reservations gather around tone. Many find it twee or cosy, several say the stage origins show, and the whimsical final scene is faulted even by critics who otherwise enjoy themselves. The spread is wide, from four-star notices to outright dismissals. The harshest come from American outlets: Vulture calls it a tedious distortion of Bennett’s diaries, Slant finds it glib and emotionally distant, and The Wrap thinks Bennett himself takes up too much of the story. Even they exempt Smith. ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Rating 4/5. 12 November 2015. Bradshaw finds the film very enjoyable and poignant. He singles out Maggie Smith’s terrifically good performance as Miss Shepherd for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/nov/12/the-lady-in-the-van-review-maggie-smith-alan-bennett-nicholas-hytner) ## Time Out — Cath Clarke Rating 4/5. 12 September 2015. The review finds the film a cosy, comic success. It particularly praises Maggie Smith’s performance. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-lady-in-the-van) ## Evening Standard — David Sexton Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 13 October 2015. Festival review. Sexton considers the film the definitive version of Bennett’s story, despite an indulgent final scene. He singles out Maggie Smith’s glorious performance as its chief strength. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/toronto-film-festival-2015-the-lady-in-the-van-review-maggie-smith-is-glorious-a2947811.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Rebecca Keegan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 December 2015. Keegan finds the film a sharp, charming comedy whose stage-to-screen translation occasionally feels unnatural. She especially praises Maggie Smith’s layered portrayal of Miss Shepherd and her contradictory qualities. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-lady-in-the-van-review-20151205-story.html) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 November 2015. Nathan finds the film a fine, moving comedy that gradually deepens into an exploration of human bonds. He particularly praises Maggie Smith’s comic yet perceptive portrayal, which gives Miss Shepherd emotional depth. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/lady-van-review/) ## Radio Times — Barry Norman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2019. The review presents the film as an appealing comedy about human connection. It singles out Maggie Smith as ideal in the central role. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/lady-in-the-van-review/) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2015. Festival review. Lodge finds the adaptation slight but amiable, with a misjudged whimsical ending. He praises Maggie Smith’s gusty, irascible performance as the chief draw. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/toronto-film-review-the-lady-in-the-van-1201581616/) ## Film Comment Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page identifies pro and con views on the specified film, but the review text is inaccessible. Its verdict and any singled-out praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/issues/november-december-2015/?pdfviewer=issue&pdf-page=72) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint from the review is available to summarize. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lady-in-the-van-2015) ## Screen Daily — Allan Hunter Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 13 September 2015. The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It also does not show what the critic singles out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-lady-in-the-van-review/5093028.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 page text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/movies/review-in-the-lady-in-the-van-maggie-smith-homesteads-in-the-driveway.html) ## Little White Lies — Sophie Monks Kaufman Rating 2/3/4. 11 November 2015. The critic finds the adaptation mild but quietly magical, praising its sharp observations and intimate portrayal of the relationship. Maggie Smith’s layered performance stands out, while the subplots are called slight distractions. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-lady-in-the-van) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating C. 3 December 2015. Hassenger finds the film competent but dull, with its themes overexplained and its ending unearned. He praises Maggie Smith’s commanding performance, which outshines Alex Jennings. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/maggie-smith-looks-for-a-philomena-of-her-own-with-the-1798185885) ## Slant Magazine — Elise Nakhnikian Rating 1.5/4. 30 November 2015. Nakhnikian finds the film emotionally distant and annoyingly glib rather than insightful. She praises Maggie Smith’s poised performance, while criticizing the screenplay’s self-conscious voiceover and toothless dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-lady-in-the-van/) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film maudlin and ultimately diminishing rather than genuinely affecting. They fault its whimsy for flattening Margaret’s complex life and reducing two superb actors to cuteness. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-lady-in-the-van-2) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 6 December 2015. Edelstein finds the film a tedious, twee distortion of Bennett’s diaries and ultimately a disappointment. He singles out Maggie Smith’s performance, especially a scene where Miss Shepherd watches a young woman play piano, as a glimpse of the character’s tragedy. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2015/12/movie-review-the-lady-in-the-van.html) ## Eye for Film — Jane Fae Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 November 2015. Fae finds the film more than its twee, mannered comedy suggests, though its theatrical origins remain evident. She particularly praises Maggie Smith’s performance, which conceals the character’s personal tragedy until near the end. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-lady-in-the-van-2015-film-review-by-jane-fae) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2015. The critic finds the film condescending and overly sweet, with Alan Bennett taking too much of the story’s focus. Maggie Smith’s sharp, accomplished performance is the film’s saving grace, though it cannot fully overcome those flaws. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-lady-in-the-van-review-maggie-smith-alex-jennings-alan-bennett/) --- © 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-lady-in-the-van.md