--- title: "Wild Bill: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/wild-bill/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/wild-bill" critics_score: 68 critics_reviews: 14 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." --- # Wild Bill (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 68 from 14 reviews: 9 positive, 4 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Wild Bill, finding Dexter Fletcher’s debut an engaging blend of family drama, humour and crime. Praise centres on the performances: Charlie Creed-Miles gives the story warmth and emotional weight, while Will Poulter makes the responsible teenager affecting and believable. The reviews also favour Fletcher’s intimate, measured direction, which allows the characters to develop without rushing their relationships. For many, the familiar setting and story gain enough life from the cast and sharp dialogue. Reservations cluster around predictability, sentimentality and supporting characters who slip into cliché. The spread is fairly wide, though positive responses comfortably outnumber mixed and negative ones. Even some admirers acknowledge a lack of originality. Variety supplies the clearest dissent, finding the drama short of grit and nuance, the leads thinly written and the fight choreography weak. ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 22 March 2012. Bradshaw praises the film as a likable, involving comedy-drama with strong writing and performances. He especially singles out Charlie Creed-Miles, whose warmth and melancholy make him the story’s beating heart. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/mar/22/wild-bill-review) ## Total Film — Matt Mueller Rating 4/5. 19 March 2012. The review is positive, praising the film as an engaging, funny, and fresh take on a family-and-crime story. It particularly singles out Charlie Creed-Miles, whose performance anchors the film emotionally. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/wild-bill-1-review/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 15 February 2012. Newman finds the film a fresh, engaging take on the East End gangster and dysfunctional-family story. He singles out Will Poulter’s affecting performance as the responsible teenager struggling with ordinary teenage life. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wild-bill-2-review/) ## Evening Standard — Derek Malcolm Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 March 2012. Malcolm finds the film a welcome, sincere surprise, though it does not always escape cliché or sentimentality. He praises Charlie Creed-Miles’s performance and the supporting cameos for making the story feel decent and convincing. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/wild-bill-review-7582952.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — THR Staff Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 28 September 2011. Festival review. The critic finds the film a sentimental but effective entry in the British gangster genre. They praise its sharp dialogue and the potent chemistry between Charlie Creed-Miles and Will Poulter, while noting that some supporting characters veer into cliché. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wild-bill-film-review-241705/) ## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 22 September 2011. The page identifies this as a review, but the critic’s verdict is inaccessible. The paywall also prevents identifying what the review singles out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/wild-bill/5032423.article) ## Radio Times — Trevor Johnston Rating 3/5. The critic calls the film bleakly entertaining, finding its blend of family drama and crime thriller effective. They single out Dexter Fletcher’s directorial debut and its East London setting. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-99hhsy/wild-bill/) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 3/5. 27 September 2011. Huddleston gives the film a middling three-out-of-five rating, suggesting a mixed verdict. The review text is unavailable, so no specific praise or complaint can be identified. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/wild-bill-1) ## Variety — Jay Weissberg Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 26 September 2011. Festival review. Weissberg finds the film mild and clichéd, lacking the grit and nuance expected of a British working-class drama. He faults the weak fight choreography and says the leads have little material beyond surface characterization. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/wild-bill-1117946243/) ## Digital Spy — Mayer Nissim Rating 4. 19 March 2012. The review finds Fletcher’s debut tender, heartfelt and genuinely touching. It particularly praises the young cast, especially Will Poulter, and the film’s assured, quiet storytelling. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a370152/wild-bill-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 February 2012. Wilkinson calls the film a very good debut, despite occasional perfunctoriness and references that do not land. She praises its steady, measured pace for letting the characters develop gradually and believably. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/wild-bill-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2011. Festival review. The headline presents the film as an immensely likable directorial debut. The blocked page prevents identifying what the critic specifically praised beyond that overall verdict. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/lff-11-review-wild-bill-is-an-immensely-likable-directorial-debut-from-dexter-fletcher-20111023/) ## HeyUGuys — Craig Skinner Rating 3.5/5. 20 October 2011. Festival review. The critic calls the film a convincing, absorbing drama and an impressive debut. They praise the performances, especially Will Poulter and Liz White, and single out the film’s intimate direction and visual style. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/lff-2011-wild-bill-review/) ## Den of Geek — Luke Holland Rating 3/5. 19 March 2012. The critic finds the directorial debut an enjoyable, heartfelt surprise despite its predictable plot and lack of originality. He praises the cast, especially Will Poulter, and Fletcher’s balanced handling of humor, drama, and crime. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/wild-bill-review/) --- © 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/wild-bill.md