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Meet Dave Review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

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

  • 3.0
    43

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Mixed or average reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 38

    out of 100

    USA Today Claudia Puig

    If only the movie had heeded its own advice and tried to be different from the standard formula.

    Read Full Review

  • 40

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times

    Pays lip service to the joys of exploring new worlds, but it never steps off the tour bus.

    Read Full Review

  • 40

    out of 100

    Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

    Dumbfoundingly erratic, for the most part, but smart and funny from time to time.

    Read Full Review

  • 50

    out of 100

    The New York Times Manohla Dargis

    Though mildly amusing, Murphy's two characters in Meet Dave -- a wee captain and a humanoid spaceship -- neither tax nor stretch him.

    Read Full Review

  • 50

    out of 100

    The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen

    Eddie Murphy's amusingly out of this world in this otherwise tired vehicle.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    Variety Joe Leydon

    Aimed squarely at the same family audiences that flocked to Murphy's "Doctor Dolittle" comedies, this is a lightly amusing and surprisingly sweet Fox release.

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

    this unfairly maligned sci-fi comedy testifies that Eddie Murphy still has the gift of surprise.

    Read Full Review

  • See all Meet Dave reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 8+

Not as crass as Norbit, but as forgettable.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that although this Eddie Murphy comedy is mostly inoffensive, the alien characters display some off-putting stereotypes about gay men, women, and African Americans. The jokes aren't crass -- they're just cliched and stupid (for example, liking showtunes means you're flamboyantly homosexual, being black means you love rap, etc.). Otherwise, there's some scatological humor, a couple scenes of mild violence, some mild drinking and language, and a whole lot of product placements.

  • Families can talk about what humans teach the miniature aliens. How does being on Earth affect them? How do Gina and Josh change from knowing Dave? Discuss some of the stereotypical behavior in the film. Is it offensive or funny?

The good stuff
  • message true0

    Messages: On the one hand, aliens realize that Earthlings aren't all evil and worth destroying, and a timid boy acts courageously. But on the other hand, there are several off-putting sterotypes: After hearing a showtune, one alien exhibits flamboyant homosexual stereotypes; a female alien starts trashtalking about other women's weight; a black alien starts listening to rap, commenting on women's behinds, etc.

What to watch for
  • violence false3

    Violence and scariness: "Dave" gets struck by a car, and his "ankle" looks broken. There's an armed takeover of the Dave spaceship and a shootout between Dave and the NYPD. An alien tries to destroy earth, but it's more comical than scary.

  • sex false0

    Sexy stuff: Mild flirting, hugging, and one kiss. An alien remarks on a woman's behind.

  • language false3

    Language: Mild: "damn it," "ass," etc.

  • consumerism false5

    Consumerism: One scene is practically an Old Navy commercial; another takes place in an Apple store. There are several references to Internet companies like Google, Yahoo!, MySpace, etc. Other product placements include Heinz ketchup and the Broadway musical A Chorus Line.

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Adults have mojitos at a restaurant; aliens consume the alcohol that "Dave" drinks.

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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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 2.97
Read all reviews Write a review at Fandango
1

This was Awful!! by pulpfiction007
I gave this movie 30 minutes and it was so dumb

2

by Thbjones

Read all Meet Dave reviews at Fandango
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