--- title: "The Rum Diary: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-rum-diary/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-rum-diary" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 19 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 Rum Diary (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 19 reviews: 7 positive, 9 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics land in the middle on The Rum Diary, with a slight lean towards affection: the reviews are more often mixed than enthusiastic, and only a few are hostile. The praise gathers around Bruce Robinson’s dialogue, which several critics call sharp and lively, and around the supporting cast, with Giovanni Ribisi and Michael Rispoli repeatedly singled out for stealing scenes. The Puerto Rico setting draws warm words too, both for the look of the place and for the seedy, humid atmosphere the film settles into. The reservations are about the story and the lead. Many critics find the plot loose and meandering, the romantic strand undercooked and the ending abrupt. Johnny Depp divides them: NME considers his restrained, rage-filled turn the film’s finest element, while The Hollywood Reporter and The Guardian find it too cautious to carry the audience. The spread is wide. Empire calls it thrilling; The Guardian calls it a vanity project. ## Empire — Philip Wilding Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 November 2011. The critic finds the film a thrilling, funny tribute to Hunter Thompson and a portrait of America in decline. They praise Bruce Robinson’s robust, witty script and the vintage atmosphere created by shooting on 16mm. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rum-diary-review/) ## Evening Standard — The Standard Rating ***. 10 April 2012. The review finds the film engaging but says it loses steam and lacks dramatic purpose by the end. It praises the excellent supporting performances and Robinson’s lively dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-rum-diary-review-7427554.html) ## IndieWire — Eric Kohn Rating B-. 16 October 2011. Festival review. Kohn finds the film flawed and generally mediocre, though it remains an admirable, sufficiently entertaining portrait of Thompson’s early development. He praises its restrained vision and its thoughtful account of Kemp’s emerging journalistic convictions, while faulting the limp plot and muted lead performance. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/hamptons-review-rum-diary-johnny-depps-homage-to-hunter-s-thompson-is-flawed-but-earnest-51634/) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Rating B-. 27 October 2011. Tobias finds the film loose, lackadaisical, and too aimless to convey its hero’s idealism. He praises Robinson’s depth in the tension between indulgence and justice, but says the romantic subplot goes nowhere. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-rum-diary-1798170182) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 14 October 2011. The accessible page identifies this as a review, but its verdict is hidden. No specific praise or complaint is available in the supplied text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-rum-diary/5032907.article) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 2.5/4. 26 October 2011. Ebert’s review is mixed, finding the film less compelling than its source material. It faults the adaptation for not capturing enough of Hunter S. Thompson’s distinctive spark. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-rum-diary-2011) ## Radio Times — Trevor Johnston Rating 3/5. Trevor Johnston gives the film a measured three-star review. He singles out its substance-fuelled, raucous humour as a feature of the serio-comic story. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-qgyez0/the-rum-diary/) ## Time Out — Cath Clarke Rating 3/5. 8 November 2011. Clarke's three-star rating suggests a measured, mixed verdict. The available page metadata singles out Depp finding Thompson's manuscript. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-rum-diary) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Rating 3/5. 3 November 2011. The critic finds it an affectionate, droll companion to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, though it never reaches that film’s manic heights. He praises the comic antics and Giovanni Ribisi’s scene-stealing performance, while faulting the plot and abrupt ending. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-rum-diary-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 14 October 2011. McCarthy finds the film diverting but ultimately uncompelling, a mild and only partly engaging look at Thompson’s early life. He praises Michael Rispoli’s performance and Amber Heard’s flashes of wildness, while faulting Johnny Depp’s cautious characterization for limiting audience engagement. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/rum-diary-film-review-248415/) ## Slant Magazine — Andrew Schenker Rating 2/4. 25 October 2011. Schenker finds the film an unsatisfying, disjointed work that forces its disparate elements into a clumsy conclusion. He praises its occasional visual flair and its effort to connect the story to American economic imperialism. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-rum-diary/) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 14 October 2011. Chang finds the film more successful as a dreamy, seedy mood piece than as a coherent narrative, with Depp’s performance feeling unfocused. He praises the sharp dialogue and richly rendered atmosphere, along with the supporting cast’s lively performances. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/the-rum-diary-1117946350/) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2011. Sharkey finds the film visually seductive but ultimately unable to capture the novel’s essential power. She praises Johnny Depp’s introspective performance and Puerto Rico’s striking cinematography. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-oct-28-la-et-rum-diary-20111028-story.html) ## The New York Times — A. O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2011. Scott’s verdict is mixed, finding the adaptation less successful than its source material. The film’s episodic, meandering structure is a particular weakness. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/movies/hunter-s-thompsons-rum-diary-with-johnny-depp-review.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2011. Bradshaw finds the film sincere but ultimately self-admiring, calling it a vanity project. He praises its loving adaptation and occasional Withnail-like situations, but criticizes Depp for failing to convey fear or anger. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/nov/10/the-rum-diary-film-review) ## Den of Geek — Ron Hogan Rating 4/5. 30 October 2011. Hogan calls the film very good, though not a runaway success. He praises Giovanni Ribisi’s scene-stealing performance and the film’s beautiful use of Puerto Rico’s landscape. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-rum-diary-review-2/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 28 October 2011. The review finds the film a largely successful, entertaining tribute to Hunter S. Thompson, despite its meandering pace. It praises the humorous misadventures and faithfulness to Thompson’s tone, but notes that the lead characters lack chemistry. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-rum-diary-review/) ## NME — Owen Nicholls Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2011. The critic recommends the film as a fitting tribute to Hunter S. Thompson. They single out Johnny Depp’s restrained, rage-filled performance as its finest element. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/the-rum-diary-film-review-760702) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2011. The critic finds the film meandering and says its characters never become fully defined, recommending it mainly to Thompson and Depp fans. They praise the brief hallucinatory sequence as one of the film’s funniest moments. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/review-yo-ho-ho-johnny-depp-phones-it-rum-diary-32245/) --- © 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-rum-diary.md