An Invisible SignMovie Reviews

Poster art for "An Invisible Sign."

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Avg. Critic Score: 23 out of 100 Generally unfavorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
14 OK for kids 14+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 50
    Los Angeles Times | Kevin Thomas

    Alba gives such a focused, interior portrayal that she just might have managed to carry the movie had it been better. Read full review

  • 40
    Variety |

    A tone of fanciful absurdity is maintained throughout. Read full review

  • 38
    New York Post | Lou Lumenick

    A good cast equipped with cute names is forced to muddle through terminal whimsy in this less-than-magical adaptation of Aimee Bender's adult fairy tale, sluggishly directed by Marilyn Agrelo, who more successfully helmed the delightful documentary "Mad Hot Ballroom." Read full review

  • 30
    Village Voice | Nick Schager

    Jessica Alba gets plain-Jane crazy for An Invisible Sign, a syrupy "A Beautiful Mind" redux in which the starlet sports big brown bangs and Pippi Longstocking pigtails. Read full review

  • 20
    New York Daily News | Joe Neumaier

    Alba certainly tries her best at portraying not just a beauty but also a beautiful mind, yet very few things add up despite director Marilyn Agrelo's efforts. Read full review

  • 20
    Time Out New York | Eric Hynes

    Except for two brief summits between Alba and Messina's pillowy lips, however, An Invisible Sign fails even to pander effectively. Read full review

  • 20
    The New York Times | Jeannette Catsoulis

    Cuter than a basket of puppies licking a litter of kittens, An Invisible Sign is an excruciatingly whimsical collision of adult themes and kid-friendly aesthetic. Read full review

View more reviews for An Invisible Sign on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 14+ Lukewarm dramedy is OK for teens but lacks power.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that although this fable-like indie dramedy doesn't have too much iffy content when it comes to sex (some kissing and implied intimate moments), drinking, or language ("a--hole" is as strong as it gets), it deals with some fairly heavy subject matter -- such as death and dysfunction. One person’s father suffers an infirmity; another has a sick mother in the hospital. The lead character is clearly emotionally stunted and has many fears, but she does overcome them.
  • Families can talk about the movie's messages. What is it saying about love? Should you ever have to compromise who you are to be in a relationship?
  • How does the film portray smart, mathematically talented girls? Do you find that depiction realistic? Flattering? Insulting?
The good stuff
  • message true2 Positive messages: The movie's central take away is that love doesn’t require you to lose parts of yourself, but you’ll have to trust in love to learn that truth.
  • rolemodels true0 Positive role models: Mathematically talented girls are portrayed as dowdy, odd, or strange -- or all of the above.
What to watch for
  • violence false2 Violence: Two kids threaten to chop each other up with an axe, but it ultimately hurts someone else. A girl slams her head against a glass pane, hurting herself.
  • sex false2 Sex: A couple is interrupted mid-intimate moment; their bare shoulders are visible. Another couple is shown clothed in bed, under the covers. Some kisses.
  • language false2 Language: Words used include "skanky" and "a--hole."
  • consumerism false1 Consumerism: A mention of M&Ms and Cheerios.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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