--- title: "True Lies: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/true-lies/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/true-lies" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 9 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." --- # True Lies (1994): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 9 reviews: 5 positive, 2 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics find True Lies an entertaining action-comedy, with praise clustering around James Cameron’s inventive set pieces and the film’s willingness to laugh at its own excesses. Jamie Lee Curtis draws particular approval for making the marital comedy work, while Tom Arnold’s comic support earns praise even from a detractor. The favourable reviews see the exaggerated action and self-aware humour as a successful combination. The reservations concern the treatment of women, crude stereotypes and a marital-deception subplot that some find unconvincing or mean-spirited. Length and thin plotting also draw criticism, though several reviewers enjoy the spectacle despite these objections. The spread is wide: The Hollywood Reporter finds the domestic comedy touching, while the Los Angeles Times argues that the humiliation of women undermines the entertainment. The Independent offers the sharpest dissent, finding an incoherent jumble of genres and clichés, with Arnold providing its sole source of praise. ## Empire — Caroline Westbrook Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic calls it a glorious self-parody and unbeatably good fun that succeeds where other Schwarzenegger efforts failed, thanks to its over-the-top tone and Cameron's action set pieces. She singles out the spectacular final half-hour with helicopters, limos and Harrier jets as a heart-stopping highlight. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/true-lies-review/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. The critic praises the spectacular action sequences, strong comedy from Tom Arnold and Jamie Lee Curtis's transformation into a confident hero. Despite noting the film's implausibility and sexist elements, it is called unbeatable entertainment on an excitement level. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-djxwj8/true-lies/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3/4. 15 July 1994. Praises the inventive and audacious action sequences and Cameron's mastery of the form but criticizes the overly long runtime, the unconvincing adultery subplot, and the perfunctory plot. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/true-lies-1994) ## The AV Club — Tomris Laffly Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 July 2024. The critic praises the film as a rare, fun, and technically impressive standalone action-comedy that holds up for its set pieces and lightness. It notes the film's controversial elements around gender and stereotypes but defends its entertainment value and Curtis's performance. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/true-lies-remains-james-camerons-lightest-silliest-mo-1851592528) ## Time Out — GA Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 26 September 2014. Half the film delivers fast, crude hi-tech action with explosions and cartoon violence to satisfy baser instincts. The middle marital crisis section is amusing thanks to Curtis's performance despite its offensive take on relationships, while the finale offers neck-breaking violence. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/true-lies) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 14 July 1994. Highlights Cameron's imaginative action set pieces and the film's self-kidding elements but argues that crudeness, mean-spiritedness, and especially the humiliating treatment of women undercut the entertainment value. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-14-ca-15258-story.html) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 18 July 1994. Finds the film an odd mix of expensive action spectacle and a crude, misogynistic middle section about marital deception; praises the thrills at the beginning and end but is unsettled by the tone and treatment of women. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1994/07/25/the-spy-who-loved-me) ## The Independent — Adam Mars-Jones Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 11 August 1994. The critic deems the film a disastrous mess and reverse masterpiece of everything that can go wrong, an incoherent explosion of genres and clichés with no sense of audience engagement. He singles out the waste of Cameron's talents and only praises Tom Arnold's sidekick performance amid the chaos. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-consider-this-a-disaster-adam-marsjones-is-stunned-by-the-new-schwarzenegger-vehicle-true-lies-an-explosion-in-a-script-conference-5325840.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Duane Byrge 11 July 1994. The critic finds the film a box-office powerhouse thanks to its explosive action sequences in Cameron's signature style. It balances big-screen thrills with a touching comedic subplot about the spy's home life and marriage. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/true-lies-review-movie-1994-1218245/) ## Eye for Film — Stephen Carty Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 December 2008. The critic finds True Lies entertaining and well-balanced as an action-comedy, with strong set pieces and performances that keep viewers grinning throughout. They single out the chemistry and delivery from Schwarzenegger, Curtis and Tom Arnold, along with inventive chases and the film's self-aware tone. [Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/true-lies-film-review-by-stephen-carty) --- © 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/true-lies.md