The Motorcycle DiariesMovie Reviews

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Avg. Critic Score: 75 out of 100 Generally favorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
16 OK for kids 16+
Read Common Sense Media review

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

  • 100
    San Francisco Chronicle | Carla Meyer

    A superb film. Read full review

  • 100
    Christian Science Monitor | David Sterritt

    One thing few will disagree on is the quality of the film's acting, especially by Gael García Bernal as Guevara and Rodrigo de la Serna as his friend. Both effortlessly embody the footloose, sometimes feckless quality of this "On the Road"-style adventure. Read full review

  • 88
    Philadelphia Inquirer | Steven Rea

    A steady, soulful film experience. It's got poetry to it - the poetry of humanity. Read full review

  • 88
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    A mesmerizing look at an asthmatic, rich-boy medical student in the act of discovering his insurgent spirit. Read full review

  • 88
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    More coming-of-age story than biopic, this Guevara odyssey is a transformative adventure well worth watching. Read full review

  • 80
    Wall Street Journal | Joe Morgenstern

    A convincing, entertaining portrait of the revolutionist as a young man. Read full review

  • 75
    New York Daily News | Jack Mathews

    There is no great story being told here. Mostly, it is a conventional road movie - a buddy comedy even - about the quests of two likable guys. The memoirs exist only because of Guevara's subsequent fame as a revolutionary leader in Cuba, Congo and Bolivia. Read full review

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter |

    A smartly scoped story of great personal growth and transformation. It's not hard to see the personality/political basis for Che's later revolutionary actions. Read full review

  • 63
    Boston Globe | Wesley Morris

    For a movie, this feels inadequate, despite its splendors and, later, its social dismay. It does, however, have the makings of a grand postcard. Read full review

  • 58
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    Glazed over by its worship of Che Guevara. Read full review

View more reviews for The Motorcycle Diaries on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 16+ Subtly political biopic won't interest most teens.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this movie has some social drinking, strong language, and discussions of a sexual nature. This is a biopic of the early life of future Communist guerilla leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara, but impressionable youths aren't too likely to convert to Marxism solely by watching -- if they're interested at all (unless your kids have a deep interest in the subject already or love polishing up their Spanish-language skills, they probably won't have much interest).
  • Families can talk about Ernesto's values and idealism, and the adage "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: Not an issue
What to watch for
  • violence false0 Violence: None, except for a near-brawl, avoided by the fleeing heroes.
  • sex false3 Sexy stuff: Nothing really shown, but much-discussed (including a heavily-coded negotiation with a prostitute).
  • language false5 Language: Some very raw language.
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Not an issue
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Social drinking, one supporting character gets drunk.
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