Eagle vs. SharkMovie Reviews

Poster art for "Eagle vs. Shark."

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 55 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
16 Iffy for 16+
Read Common Sense Media review

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

  • 75
    Philadelphia Inquirer | Steven Rea

    A Kiwi nerd love story and loopy portrait of Down Under underachievers, Eagle vs. Shark offers a deadpan take on family, friendship, obsession and self-delusion. Read full review

  • 75
    USA Today |

    Unlike so many big-studio films that pass off models in horn-rimmed glasses as nerds, this little New Zealand gem embraces the inner geek and, just as effectively, celebrates misfit love. Read full review

  • 70
    Wall Street Journal | Joe Morgenstern

    This debut feature, occasionally arch but consistently affecting, shares the deadpan esthetic of "Napoleon Dynamite" and "Ghost World." Read full review

  • 70
    Washington Post | Stephen Hunter

    The movie isn't funny in any big way so much as recognizable in its patterns of dysfunction, delusion and futility. But you believe in it, because you believe in the small but decent lives of its characters, a rare experience for a hot weekend in June. Read full review

  • 63
    Boston Globe | Ty Burr

    Watching Eagle vs Shark is like sitting next to a terminally awkward first date at a restaurant. You cringe and feel protective toward the poor, sweet dweebs at the same time. Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times | A.O. Scott

    Intermittently charming, sometimes tiresome celebration of quirkiness. Read full review

  • 50
    Los Angeles Times | Carina Chocano

    As it turns out, spending a couple of hours with emotionally arrested, socially moronic characters is not a whole lot more fun than spending a couple of hours with actual emotionally arrested, socially moronic people. Read full review

  • 42
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    It's a tale that reduces angst, not to mention love, to a generational tic. Read full review

  • 40
    The Hollywood Reporter | James Greenberg

    More dumb than funny. Read full review

  • 40
    Variety | Todd McCarthy

    Result is still innocuously mild and inconsequential. Read full review

View more reviews for Eagle vs. Shark on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+ Geek-love rom-com from New Zealand has bite.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this quirky New Zealand film has a following on YouTube, so teens may already have seen clips of it there. Quirky and a bit dark, it's far from your typical romantic comedy. The main character, Jarrod, is off-putting, callous, and rude, and at times his relationship with the female lead feels masochistic. There are plenty of dark moments (including glimpses at a family torn apart by suicide), as well as lots of strong language ("f--k", variations on slang for male genitalia, and more). There's also a definite undercurrent of violence: Jarrod is a champ at beating opponents in an aggression-filled video game, and he trains to beat up a childhood bully. Still, older teens may be able to see beyond Jarrod's unappealing exterior -- especially since his sweet-though-gawky girlfriend seems to be able to find some good in him.
  • Families can talk about how this cinematic romance bucks the Hollywood trend. Is it believable? Does the "there's someone for everyone" message come off as hopeful or sad (i.e. some people have to settle for "losers")? Then again, is the typical Hollywood romantic comedy any more believable? Families can also discuss how video and computer games are presented in the movie -- and read more about the link between video games and violence.
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: Jarrod's a self-described "loser," and he proves himself right. He talks mostly about himself, shows little concern for those around him, prank calls people and threatens them, stands up and then dumps a woman who's only been nice to him, name-calls his sister, exhibits violent tendencies (he punches things out of nowhere), ignores his child, and even beats up a paraplegic. By contrast, Lily is warm and kind and giving, which somewhat mitigates Jarrod's awfulness.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence: Jarrod stalks a former childhood nemesis by phone and threatens him; later he beats him up while he's in a wheelchair. Guests gleefully beat each other via video games at a party, and then throw shoes at one of the hosts, who volunteers to play target.
  • sex false5 Sex: Glimpses of porn (showing full intercourse) pop up on a computer. Lily and Jarrod have sex, but with little emotion (at least the first time) -- no body parts are visible except for Lily's bare shoulders, though there's an audible sound of a condom being put on. Also some discussion of sex in frank terms ("That was some good sex last night"). Lily tears off her top after a party and runs into the night (only her bare back is visible).
  • language false5 Language: Very colorful, including various slang for male genitalia ("c--k," etc.), "bitch" (and its alternate version, "beeyatch"), and a few uses of "f--k."
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Signage for Meaty Boy, the fictional fast food restaurant where Lily works; mention of the Ford Laser (a real car).
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some smoking and drinking, mostly at parties; at one particular bash, Lily gets completely drunk.
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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2.0

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Eagle vs. Shark Movie Ratings + Reviews

Fans say

So-so 275 fan reviews

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