Funny GirlMovie Reviews

Poster art for "Funny Girl."

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Avg. Critic Score: 89 out of 100 Universal acclaim Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
10 OK for kids 10+
Read Common Sense Media review

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

  • 100
    New York Daily News | Jami Bernard

    You can reexperience the humor and magic -- and the essence of Streisand -- in this William Wyler classic. Read full review

  • 100
    Baltimore Sun | Michael Sragow

    Funny Girl is old-fashioned; it is also exhilarating. Read full review

  • 100
    Los Angeles Times | Kevin Thomas

    The musical biography of comedian Fanny Brice emerges as a true classic, as enthralling as the day it was released in 1968. It is a superb example of Hollywood craftsmanship in which all elements have been blended to perfection with inspired artistry. Read full review

  • 90
    New Times (L.A.) | Jean Oppenheimer

    Despite its two-and-a-half hour running time, the movie flies by, so absorbing are its story, songs and stars. Read full review

  • 90
    Salon.com | Stephanie Zacharek

    It's a cross between confidence and vulnerability that's hard for an actress to pull off, but Streisand hits the note perfectly. And her greatest moment of acting, I think, is also the picture's strongest musical number. Read full review

  • 80
    Variety |

    Barbra Streisand in her Hollywood debut makes a marked impact. Read full review

  • 60
    Chicago Reader |

    Streisand is stunning, but the film is a trial, particularly when the music disappears somewhere around the 90-minute mark and all that's left is leaden melodrama. Read full review

View more reviews for Funny Girl on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 10+ Dazzling musical romance is long but entertaining.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this elegant, romantic, and often funny musical is wonderful entertainment, but might be too long and mature for many tweens. The movie's nearly three hours focuses on the ups and downs in the romance of Fanny Brice and Nick Arnstein and includes some mature thematic material, such as marital woes and dishonesty. The romance includes Nick's smooth seduction of the innocent young Brice and hints of his promiscuity. However, there is no on-camera sexual activity other than passionate kissing and embracing, and no nudity. Many of the glamorous costumes reveal a lot of leg and have plunging necklines. Characters do plenty of social drinking and leading characters smoke cigarettes.
  • Families can talk about the fact that most traditional movie romances follow a familiar pattern: "girl meets boy; girl loses boy; girl gets boy back" (or vice versa). How does this movie differ? What other memorable musical love stories have veered from the traditional path?
  • Other than her singing voice and comic gifts, what personal qualities do you think made Fanny Brice successful?
  • The filmmakers are known to have made significant changes from Fanny Brice's real story when adapting it for the stage and film. Does this matter to you? If it does, what resources are available to give you more information?
The good stuff
  • message true3 Positive messages: With much effort and courage (and some good luck, too), talented performers can succeed; however, even great success doesn't necessarily bring personal happiness. Even the smartest and most gifted among us don't necessarily make the best decisions. It's helpful to use humor as a way of deflecting personal hurt and disappointment.
  • rolemodels true3 Positive role models: Fanny Brice is portrayed as a talented, off-beat, and spirited performer who chooses to retain her positive values even as she reaches the heights of show business success. She treats people well and is fair, honorable and generous. Still, she blindly trusts and loves a man who is weak and self-destructive, subjecting herself to heartache because of him.
What to watch for
  • violence false0 Violence: Not an issue
  • sex false2 Sex: One suggestive -- and sometimes comic -- song finds Nick Arnstein seducing the innocent young Fanny Brice. At the end of the song, they kiss and sink down onto a sofa. It's implied thereafter that they are involved in a sexual relationship. There are numerous passionate kisses between Fanny and Nick throughout. There is no nudity, but there are lots of revealing costumes. Trademark statuesque, beautiful Ziegfield Follies girls appear on stage in gowns which showing lots of leg and cleavage.
  • language false1 Language: One "hell," one "damn."
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Not an issue
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false2 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Lots of social drinking in restaurants, at home, in gambling club, including to "drown their sorrows." Two leading characters smoke.
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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