49
Metascore
10 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80VarietyPeter DebrugeVarietyPeter DebrugeThough the story was written almost two decades ago, it’s a microcosm for the kind of wall-building mentality that has taken hold of the mainstream today, and the Malloy brothers achieve a kind of tragic poetry that sticks with those who make it a point to seek this one out.
- 63Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreThere’s a compactness to it all that I appreciate (“Big Little Lies” had more incidents, but like all limited-run cable series, the story drips out like molasses in winter). But the story and story arc here are truncated and can leave the viewer still-interested and somewhat dissatisfied when all is said and done.
- 60The Hollywood ReporterSheri LindenThe Hollywood ReporterSheri LindenThe directors and screenwriter Karen Croner are attuned to the different ways that Phil and Sandy selfishly draw their kids deeper into the domestic mess.
- 60Village VoiceAlan ScherstuhlVillage VoiceAlan ScherstuhlGarner erupts and expectorates with winning zeal.
- 50The New York TimesTeo BugbeeThe New York TimesTeo BugbeeThe Malloys’ filmmaking never rises to the level of the actors’ nuanced performances. The actors are energized, but the camera enervates.
- 50RogerEbert.comGlenn KennyRogerEbert.comGlenn KennyThe acting is good all around but that, too, improves in the quieter moments. Monroe, best known for her work in “It Follows,” is tough and committed, and Jennifer Garner’s portrayal of a mad housewife sprinting to a meltdown is acute, even if its does require her to tamp down pretty much all of her engaging life-positive qualities.
- 50New York Magazine (Vulture)Emily YoshidaNew York Magazine (Vulture)Emily YoshidaIt’s a gorgeous-looking, sensitively edited film to be sure, but never finds a dramatic foothold, no matter how many manic arguments and drug overdoses it throws our way.
- 40Los Angeles TimesRobert AbeleLos Angeles TimesRobert AbeleThe directors get some melancholic atmosphere out of their visuals but don’t have the scene sense to build their actors’ committed performances into compelling through-lines of seaside personality disintegration.
- 38Slant MagazineKeith WatsonSlant MagazineKeith WatsonThe unvaried register of the filmmaking leads the narrative to feel aimless and dramatically inert.
- 25The PlaylistLena WilsonThe PlaylistLena WilsonThe Tribes of Palos Verdes privileges melodrama over nuance, pitting skilled actors against a humdrum script and sketchy roles. It doesn’t offer anything new, and bungles any mildly interesting plot points.