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House of D Review

Release Date: Apr 15, 2005
Rated: sexual and drug references, thematic elements and language
Runtime: 1 hr. 37 min.
Genres: Drama
Director:David Duchovny
Cast:Anton Yelchin, Téa Leoni, David Duchovny, Robin Williams, Erykah Badu. Full cast + crew

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

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

2.0

33

out of 100

Metascore^®
Generally unfavorable reviews
based on a weighted average of all
critic review scores.
10

out of 100

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern
Everyone in the film seems to be in solitary, thanks to Mr. Duchovny's stultifying style. If there was a single moment of spontaneity, it escaped me. Ditto for frivolity, though bogus poetry abounds.
30

out of 100

The New York Times Dana Stevens
The burden of the story, which is maudlin and entirely unbelievable, weighs down even the more credible performances.

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38

out of 100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
House of D is the kind of movie that particularly makes me cringe, because it has such a shameless desire to please; like Uriah Heep, it bows and scrapes and wipes its sweaty palm on its trouser leg, and also like Uriah Heep, it privately thinks it is superior.

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38

out of 100

USA Today Claudia Puig
The movie tries to be both comical and touching, as befitting the coming-of-age genre. But it feels forced, derivative and sometimes sappily sentimental.

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42

out of 100

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
An overly picaresque first feature written and directed by David Duchovny, who also co-stars.

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50

out of 100

Variety David Rooney
David Duchovny scores considerably higher as director than as screenwriter.

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50

out of 100

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck
David Duchovny delivers a clearly heartfelt but terminally mawkish and awkward directorial debut in House of D.

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70

out of 100

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
A film that takes a steadfastly gentle look at some of life's harshest moments while not overlooking its joys, House of D deserves a chance to find an audience.

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See all House of D reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Not for kids 17 and under

Off-putting drama of growing up male in the 1970s.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie has locker-room talk of erections, masturbation, tricking the French teacher into saying English naughty words, and other matters in school; lurid family melodrama out of school, eventually encompassing robbery, suicide, and mercy-killing.

Families can talk about how they think it's possible that Tom could end up having a healthy family dynamic after his dysfunctional upbringing.

The good stuff

Messages: Though he gets points for being independent and resourceful in trying circumstances, the scamp of a young hero routinely lies to his mother, tricks teachers, and does both to take the heat off his wayward buddy. Oh and he...kills somebody.

What to watch for

Violence: One window broken.
Sex: Frequent discussion of sex and lust. Tom's mother has a disconcerting habit of using the bathroom while her son's in the shower.
Language: Some pretty strong stuff for PG-13.
Consumerism: Not an issue
Drinking, drugs and smoking: One peripheral figure is an alcoholic; another character chain-smokes and overdoses on sleeping pills; another one constantly asks for marijuana.

Common Sense Media

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

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House of D Review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

For Families provided by Common Sense Media

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