Is Anybody There? devolves into a predictable yarn about a boy and a grandfatherly figure - but adding Michael Caine to the mix means it's still worth your while.
Comment
11/16/09
Is Anybody There? (2009)
66
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:114
Fresh:75
Rotten:39
Average Rating:6.3/10
Consensus: Though Michael Caine gives an excellent performance, Is Anybody There? features a cliche-filled story that ultimately falters.
Theatrical Release:Apr 17, 2009 Limited
Box Office: $1,988,165
Synopsis: Growing up and growing old never played so poignantly as it does in John Crowley’s IS ANYBODY THERE? The film grapples with the sad truths of getting older and losing loved ones, all the while... [More]
Starring: Michael Caine, Bill Milner, Anne-Marie Duff, David Morrissey
Director: John Crowley
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Reviews for Is Anybody There?
Profoundly (and some would say pleasurably) formulaic, the film possesses scant cinematic energy, relying wholly on the familiar transformation of a grumpy old man into an infectiously weepy humanist.
09/01/09
Top CriticThe talent and craftsmanship of "Is Anybody There?" is ample, but it remains uncertain whether there's anybody here still interested in this all-too-familiar story.
08/08/09
Warmly lit and beautifully acted, but cynical enough %u2013 and chock-full of enough dark humor %u2013 to avoid what might have been unbearably schmaltzy.
06/15/09
Even when dealing with the supernatural, Caine is never less than a realist. Yet you can still see the boy in him. And in Milner, you can certainly see the man Edward will become.
06/12/09
It's a film that serves as a poignant reminder of how quickly time passes.
06/12/09
Weighed down by a surrounding air of quirkiness.
06/12/09
Michael Caine is always good company, but he’s been saddled with the role of a slightly pitiful man whose life has been wasted... despite generally good performances the narrative arc is pretty obvious from the start.
06/10/09
Like a good number of films, 'Is Anybody There?' is saved from being a routine offering by the presence of Sir Michael Caine.
06/07/09
Strings together a series of sitcom situations, goes for easy laughs, and wastes some very fine actors as other residents in the home.
06/05/09
This well crafted film is given resonance and purpose with layers and layers of detail that make the bittersweet climax all the more heartwarming.
06/05/09
Caine and Milner go together like peas in a pod. Or, better yet, like bangers and mash. They're an odd couple, but they face life as one and it's a rewarding journey.
06/01/09
With two direct and developed lead performances from Michael Caine and young Bill Milner, it seems unfair to watch their efforts wasted on an uneven, unsatisfying picture like the tear-jerker Is Anybody There?
06/01/09
a quirky, sometimes schmaltzy British dramedy that mixes meaningful ruminations about growing old with broad black comedy
05/29/09
Director John Crowley overestimates the comedic potential of daily life for the elderly and infirmed. Thankfully, the casual, unforced chemistry between Caine and Milner is strong enough to suppress Is Anybody There?’s cornie
05/27/09
It wants so badly to be meaningful, relevant and compassionate, but struggles even to keep our attention, never mind our hearts or minds. Not even Michael Caine's slowly sinking geriatric Clarence or affecting young Bill Milner can elevate the material.
05/27/09
This is a film that presses many emotional buttons. In many ways it is a really sad film and certainly one that needs a wad of tissues.
05/27/09
I don't have any significant complaints about the film, but if I didn't see it I don't think I would have missed anything special.
05/21/09
What we have here is a three-and-a-half-star movie boosted into the realm of four-and-a-half stars on the strength of one person: Michael Caine.
05/20/09
Worth seeing for Caine, who makes acting seem effortless, pleasurable and even noble.
05/19/09
Latest News for Is Anybody There?
April 16, 2009:
Critics Consensus: 17 Again Is Sweet And Poignant
This week at the movies, we've got a high school do-over (17 Again, starring Zac Efron and Leslie Mann), some journalistic thrills (State of Play, starring Russell Crowe and... More...
April 01, 2009:
Michael Caine Talks Batman 3 
Michael Caine is out promoting his latest feature, "Is Anybody There," but he's perfectly willing to share his thoughts on the next "Batman" sequel -- fortunately for Collider,... More...
March 22, 2009:
Click for trailer and preview
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