--- title: "Together: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/together-2021/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/together-2021" critics_score: 58 critics_reviews: 12 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." --- # Together (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 58 from 12 reviews: 3 positive, 6 mixed, 3 negative. The reviews are split, and the critics’ score of 58 sits in the middle of a wide spread. What nearly everyone agrees on is the two performances. McAvoy and Horgan are called commanding, lively and nuanced even by critics who dislike the film, and several say their chemistry is what makes the couple believable. Horgan’s monologue about her character’s mother dying alone is the most praised passage, and the couple’s speech about deaths caused by the government’s handling of the pandemic is singled out as the point where the film’s anger lands. The reservations cluster around the writing. Most critics find the two-hander better suited to the stage than the screen, and several say the constant bickering becomes exhausting. The British reviews from June are warmer than the American ones from August: The i Paper calls it remarkable and emotionally forceful, while The Wrap and The Hollywood Reporter find it tiring and unconvincing as a love story. ## The i Paper — Sarah Carson Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2021. Carson finds the film a remarkable, emotionally forceful account of lockdown that makes a powerful case for love. She especially praises Horgan’s shattering monologue about her character’s mother dying alone. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/together-bbc2-review-sharon-horgan-dennis-kelly-james-mcavoy-covid-lockdown-coronavirus-1058660) ## Radio Times — Flora Carr Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2021. The headline presents the film as both savagely funny and emotionally devastating. It singles out the sharp comedy and emotional impact of a couple’s lockdown arguments and soul-searching. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/together-bbc-two-review/) ## RogerEbert.com 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 from the review could be verified. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/together-movie-review-2021) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 26 August 2021. The article text is unavailable, so its verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint can be reliably identified. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/movies/together-review.html) ## Evening Standard — Katie Rosseinsky Rating 3/5. 17 June 2021. Rosseinsky finds the lockdown drama compelling at times but better suited to the stage than the screen. She praises Horgan’s monologues, especially their poignant treatment of grief and disconnection. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/together-review-bbc-james-mcavoy-sharon-horgan-lockdown-bbc-b940973.html) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating C. 25 August 2021. Ehrlich finds the film too stagey and its relationship-repairing arc unconvincing, though its anger gives the pandemic drama force. He singles out the couple’s speech about deaths caused by the UK’s bungled COVID response as its most powerful moment. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/together-review-james-mcavoy-sharon-horgan-1234659980/) ## The Guardian — Barbara Ellen Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 20 June 2021. Ellen finds the drama a mixed success, wishing the talent involved had delivered sharper dialogue. She praises the believable, volatile chemistry between Horgan and McAvoy, which gives the couple’s relationship a convincing pulse. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jun/20/together-sharon-horgan-james-mcavoy-bbc-dennis-kelly-stephen-daldry-review-gb-news-horizon-the-vaccine-we-are-lady-parts) ## Slant Magazine — Wes Greene Rating 1.5/4. 23 August 2021. The review finds the film artificial, opportunistic, and frustratingly narrow. It praises the lively performances of James McAvoy and Sharon Horgan but criticizes the repetitive script and sidelining of the couple’s son. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/together-review-james-mcavoy-pandemic/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Angie Han Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 2021. Han finds the film more effective as a pandemic story than as a love story. She praises McAvoy and Horgan’s nuanced performances, but says their characters’ constant bickering makes the film exhausting. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/together-review-james-mcavoy-sharon-horgan-1234998276/) ## Paste — Jacob Oller Rating 7.9. 26 August 2021. Oller finds the film a poignant, sharply written relationship drama that maintains a beaten but convincing optimism. He especially praises McAvoy and Horgan’s performances and chemistry, while noting that the limited framing can feel visually dull. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/james-mcavoy/together-review) ## The Playlist 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 can be verified from the available text. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/together-review-stephen-daldry-20210823/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 24 August 2021. The critic finds the film tiring and ineffective as a believable relationship story, despite its well-meaning intentions. McAvoy and Horgan’s performances are singled out as commanding and skillful, even when the screenplay’s theatrical devices falter. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/together-film-review-james-mcavoy-sharon-horgan-covid-19/) --- © 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/together-2021.md