Americanese

Americanese (2006)

  • 67% of critics liked it
    (9 reviews)

  • 36% want to see it
    (59 ratings)

Writer-director Eric Byler adapted his ensemble comedy drama Americanese from Shawn Wong's best-selling 1995 novel, American Knees. The film, like the novel, dramatizes the seriocomic day-to-day experiences of a number of Asian American immigrants in the City of Angels. At the story's center… More

Unrated,
Directed By
Written By
Eric Byler, Shawn Wong
Genres
Drama, Romance, Comedy
IFC First Take

Critic Reviews

  • Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times

    Fine, understated performances and the self-assured way that Byler lets the film find its own rhythms, rather than setting into some template, result in a mature film of subtle complexity.

  • Sura Wood, Hollywood Reporter

    A collection of scenes in search of a coherent story, the film's characters don't develop, and plot lines fail to coalesce by the movie's conclusion.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    [Director Eric] Byler deals with characters who have lived their years, learned from them, and try to apply their values to their lives. Their romances are not heedless but wary, and involve a lot of negotiation.

  • Dennis Harvey, Variety

    This diverting, occasionally wry seriocomedy ultimately doesn't add up to a satisfying whole.

  • Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

    It's not the glacial pace that fatigues, but a lack of connection with the characters.

Read all 9 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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