59
Metascore
35 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80Screen DailyTim GriersonScreen DailyTim GriersonThe new film from ’71 director Yann Demange is best when it pauses to explore the father-and-son drama at the heart of this tale, as well as coldly examining America’s ruinous drug policy.
- 79IGNIGNWhite Boy Rick is a well-acted but hurried true crime tale.
- 75Film Journal InternationalTomris LafflyFilm Journal InternationalTomris LafflyDespite its structural hiccups, Demange’s film still manages to highlight the humanity of a family and community that fights to survive their no-win circumstances and aspire to pass on something hopeful to their descendants.
- 75The Film StageJared MobarakThe Film StageJared MobarakIt’s wild to think that Merritt has never acted before because he commands our attention with a mix of charismatic comedy and a sobering display of optimism in the face of annihilation.
- 58The PlaylistGregory EllwoodThe PlaylistGregory EllwoodDemange, who earned glowing reviews for his debut “’71,” tries to guide all these plotlines and characters with a steady hand, but it often feels too unwieldy. There are simply too many storylines and threads competing with each other. The result is a movie that it feels like snippets of a life instead of a portrait of one.
- 50IndieWireEric KohnIndieWireEric KohnIn Yann Demange’s bland retelling, the kid’s downward spiral has been reduced to a series of crude, unremarkable encounters and the very thing this true story shouldn’t be: poverty porn. Nevertheless, Demange manages to stitch together a number of involving scenes that track Ricky’s harsh upbringing and the events that precipitated his downfall.
- 50The Hollywood ReporterStephen FarberThe Hollywood ReporterStephen FarberDespite impressive performances by Matthew McConaughey and newcomer Richie Merritt, the film fails to engage or enlighten.
- 50VarietyPeter DebrugeVarietyPeter DebrugeAlthough Demange directs the heck out of it, White Boy Rick ultimately feels like a glorified TV movie, albeit with a better cast and a much hipper score.
- 50RogerEbert.comMonica CastilloRogerEbert.comMonica CastilloThough it's a well-done family drama, White Boy Rick is a half-told story that only lightly incorporates the deeper issues of systemic injustice. The black characters feel shortchanged in comparison to their white co-stars; even Rick’s closest friend, Boo (RJ Cyler), feels unremarkable. Despite these flaws, the performances in the movie are strong.
- 38Slant MagazineJake ColeSlant MagazineJake ColeBy treating its main character as exceptional, Yann Demange's film validates the punitive system it seeks to criticize.