Jesus Henry ChristMovie Reviews

So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 41 out of 100 Mixed or average 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.

  • 70
    Variety |

    Too deliberately eccentric to attain quite the level of wigginess it aspires to, Jesus Henry Christ does feature some standout performances and a refreshingly unconventional approach to telling its slight story. Read full review

  • 70
    Los Angeles Times |

    This time out Lee looks to bake a touch of twee-ness into the film in the hopes of keeping things light, though more often than not, the film's flourishes come off as Wes Anderson-lite. Read full review

  • 50
    NPR |

    Henry can finish a college application test in two minutes, yet Jesus Henry Christ doesn't know what to do with 90. Read full review

  • 50
    New York Post | Lou Lumenick

    Even for a surreal black comedy, Jesus Henry Christ requires massive suspension of disbelief. Read full review

  • 50
    The Hollywood Reporter | John DeFore

    Amusing but scattered and unconvincing comedy. Read full review

  • 42
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    As with his previous film "Fireflies in the Garden," writer-director Dennis Lee scratches the skin of family bonds until it bleeds. This time, he uses whimsy as a salve. Read full review

  • 38
    The Globe and Mail (Toronto) | Stephen Cole

    Try not to be in the same room as Jesus Henry Christ. At the very least run when the first fire alarm sounds. Read full review

  • 20
    Time Out New York | Nick Schager

    Why anyone would want to spend time with a foursome whose bathetic misery is, like the overly mannered visuals of writer-director Dennis Lee (Fireflies in the Garden), defined by such insufferable quirkiness is anyone's guess. Read full review

  • 20
    New York Daily News | Joe Neumaier

    It winds up just being annoying. Read full review

  • 12
    Slant Magazine | Ed Gonzalez

    The title alone invites you to cuss at this smug film, and you may do so the second you catch a whiff of the portentous first shot: a Wes Anderson put-on. Read full review

View more reviews for Jesus Henry Christ on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 14+ Stylized comedy explores identity; adults drink and smoke.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that Jesus Henry Christ is a quirky comedy that follows a 10-year-old genius in his search for his biological father. There's some mild swearing ("goddamn," "sucks") and several homophobic taunts, as well as a few scenes that feature graphic violence that seems to come from nowhere. A high school girl who has decided she's a lesbian faces frequent bullying at school. Also expect some drinking and smoking.
  • Families can talk about Henry's family. Do they seem more unusual than other families, or are all families odd in their own ways? What do you think of his mother and her parenting choices?
  • What do you think about the way Audrey is taunted at school? Do you think she responded well to the bullying? What about the way the teacher handled the situation?
The good stuff
  • message true3 Positive messages: Genetics and environment play key roles, but in the end, you can make yourself into whoever you want to be. The tough part is figuring out who that is and then having the courage to actually be that person.
  • rolemodels true2 Positive role models: Everyone in this film is trying very hard to be true to themselves, though some do a better job of it than others. And sometimes in the process, they manage to be insensitive or selfish, even though they're simply trying to figure out who they really are.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence: Several scenes of classroom bullying and taunting -- an entire class pelts a classmate with paper, for instance -- and a few graphic violent images, including people accidentally getting shot in the head or set on fire.
  • sex false1 Sexy stuff: One of the film's key plot points revolves around the paternity of a tween boy, and there are many references to "test-tube babies" and sperm donation.
  • language false2 Language: Some swearing, including "sucks," "goddamn," and frequent uses of the exclamation "Jesus H. Christ" and its various permutations. Some characters call others "homo" or "lesbo."
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Not an issue
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some characters smoke, and an heirloom cigarette lighter plays an important role. Some drinking, including a spectacularly unwise use of hard liquor.
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Jesus Henry Christ Movie Reviews + Ratings

Fans say

So-so
21 fan reviews

Critics say

So-so See all critic reviews