Back to Movies.com

ChalkMovie Reviews

Poster art for "Chalk."
Showest Sweeps

Win a trip to Las Vegas and attend the ShoWest awards ceremony live!

Valentine

Buy tickets for Valentine's Day and receive a free download on iTunes!

Win free movie tickets!

Follow us on Twitter for movie news and a chance to win free movie tickets!

Valentine

Send your sweetheart the gift of movies with Fandango Bucks!

Metascore®70 out of 100 | Generally favorable reviews

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

  • 80
    Variety | Justin Chang

    Filtering one school year through the eyes of three young instructors and a rookie administrator, this loosely scripted satire mostly steers clear of cheap shots and over-the-top gags, balancing its comic observations with a real measure of affection for teachers and students alike. Read full review

  • 75
    The Onion (A.V. Club) | Nathan Rabin

    Chalk pays homage to the kind of teachers students never forget, which makes it all the more perverse that it's so stubbornly, albeit affably, forgettable. Read full review

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter | Sheri Linden

    More a series of loose-limbed vignettes than a sculpted narrative, Chalk lacks a compelling dramatic drive. But the cast creates a fine, improvisatory interplay, captured with verite-style camerawork, and the unforced humor and insights go a long way. Read full review

  • 70
    Los Angeles Times | Carina Chocano

    Chalk avoids some of the pitfalls of the mock-doc by showing real affection and empathy for its characters, whose funny lives of quiet desperation inspire more than their share of tenderness. Read full review

  • 60
    The New York Times | Stephen Holden

    This loose-jointed ensemble comedy is funny in a squirm-inducing way. Read full review

  • 50
    Chicago Tribune | Sid Smith

    The problem with the movie is that all this improvisational verisimilitude never finds its way into fully developed stories. Read full review