---
title: "Trouble in Paradise: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/trouble-in-paradise/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/trouble-in-paradise"
critics_score: 74
critics_reviews: 8
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."
---

# Trouble in Paradise (1932): what the critics said

Critics' score 74 from 8 reviews: 5 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative.

Most critics respond warmly to Trouble in Paradise, with praise concentrated on Lubitsch’s comic timing, the ensemble and the dialogue. The favourable reviews describe a sophisticated comedy whose charm depends on precise construction, particularly the quick exchanges between its con artists and the rhythm of its editing. The Art Deco sets also draw admiration, while the opening image of a gondolier singing amid a boatload of rubbish attracts attention for its sharply observed humour.

The spread is wide rather than uniformly enthusiastic: five reviews are positive, two are scored as mixed and one is negative. Variety supplies the clear dissent, admiring the bright dialogue and stylish montage but objecting to the premise and finding that the film fails as a whole. The reasons behind the two mixed ratings cannot be verified from the available text, so they establish no shared reservation.

## Empire — David Parkinson

Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 3 July 2006. 

Parkinson regards the film as a timeless, highly sophisticated comedy with no false steps. He especially praises its finely tuned ensemble, exquisite Art Deco sets and screenplay.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/trouble-paradise-review/)

## The AV Club — Scott Tobias

Fi1m's normalised score 94/100 (inferred from the text). 27 January 2003. 

Tobias finds the film breathlessly charming, sophisticated, and expertly constructed. He especially praises Lubitsch’s unexpected opening and the film’s elegant comic precision.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/trouble-in-paradise-dvd-1798198205)

## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 July 2010. 

Sharkey calls the film breathless fun and praises its sparkling comic energy. She singles out the lightning-fast, perfectly timed exchanges between its charming con artists.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-08-la-et-betsy-20100708-story.html)

## Slant Magazine — Derek Smith

Rating 4/5. 12 April 2026. 

Smith praises the film as a sparkling Pre-Code masterpiece and calls the 4K upgrade long overdue. He singles out Lubitsch’s rhythmic editing and dialogue for heightening the film’s poetic, playful sensuality.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/trouble-in-paradise-4k-uhd-blu-ray-review-ernst-lubitsch/)

## Time Out — Tom Huddleston

Rating 4/5. 

The review presents the film as a sharply observant comedy. It singles out the opening image of a gondolier singing amid a boatload of garbage.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/trouble-in-paradise)

## RogerEbert.com

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 

The page is blocked, so its verdict cannot be verified. No praise or complaint can be reliably identified from the available text.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-trouble-in-paradise-1932)

## The New York Times

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 23 June 2006. 

The article appears to review the film, but its verdict is unavailable. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the accessible page.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/23/theater/reviews/trouble-in-paradise-the-impossible-glamour-that-was.html)

## Variety — Variety Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1931. 

The critic finds the film unsuccessful overall despite Lubitsch’s artistry. They praise the bright dialogue and stylish montage, but object to its premise and say the whole misses.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/1931/film/reviews/trouble-in-paradise-1200410519/)

---
© 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/trouble-in-paradise.md