71
Metascore
14 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 85SlashfilmHoai-Tran BuiSlashfilmHoai-Tran BuiThough the flavors of past genres are present in Lucky Grandma, all those ingredients add up to a truly unique, unforgettable dish that brings a familiar formula to a whole new level.
- 80Film ThreatLorry KiktaFilm ThreatLorry KiktaIf you’re a fan of comedy, Asian cinema or both, you will almost definitely love this movie. It’s a unique fast-paced film that’ll be sure to entertain even the most persnickety of audiences.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterHarry WindsorThe Hollywood ReporterHarry WindsorThe director and her cinematographer Eduardo Enrique Mayén never stray far from their leading lady’s face, and the Tianjin-born Chin delivers a performance of impressive minimalism, one that feels true rather than ingratiating.
- 75Chicago TribuneMichael PhillipsChicago TribuneMichael PhillipsAn unusual, agreeable heist picture with just enough feeling behind the style to make it stick, Lucky Grandma rests almost wholly on the withering glances of Tsai Chin.
- 75San Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonSan Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonLucky Grandma isn’t a feel-good comedy at all, but has a parched-dry dark comic approach, keeping Grandma Wong at an emotional remove.
- 75RogerEbert.comMatt FagerholmRogerEbert.comMatt FagerholmWhat makes this film special, first and foremost, is the performance by Chin, who has lost none of the acerbic edge she sported as Waverly’s mother in “The Joy Luck Club.”
- 70The New York TimesDevika GirishThe New York TimesDevika GirishThe director Sasie Sealy’s feature debut has style and keenly observed visual humor. Each scene is paced as perfectly as a punchline.
- 50VarietyPeter DebrugeVarietyPeter DebrugeAlthough the entire film runs just 87 minutes, as Lucky Grandma unspools, Wong’s predicament starts to feel increasingly outlandish, making it difficult for Sealy to sustain the offbeat humor and strong momentum of the opening stretch.