Critic Reviews

• Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

  For older kids or grown-ups who've dreamed of joining the circus, it's a wildly imaginative treat.

• Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader

  This big-screen vehicle for the popular performance troupe would be more bearable if the exhibitors passed out earplugs along with the 3-D glasses.

• Sara Stewart, New York Post

  It's refreshing to sit back and bask in the sheer joy with which these brightly costumed, stunningly agile performers navigate fire, water and air.

• Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

  What the movie lacks, unfortunately, is coherence.

• A.O. Scott, New York Times

  Even if the film is no substitute for the real thing, it is at least an effective advertisement.

• Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

  It's a big promo reel, and not a carefully disguised one.

• Dave White, Movies.com

  ...it's a tourism brochure, a very long, very sparkly infomercial for one-handed pushups...

• Jim Schembri, 3AW

  Designed as pure confection for the eyes, this largely wordless fare is perfect for kids (how many G-rated films are there around?) and for any stressed-out office worker eager for something to unwind to.

• Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile

  The miracle of the live Cirque du Soleil experience simply does not translate into film. I felt as though I had been invited to an extravagant banquet and while I was able to admire what was on offer, I never got close enough to satisfy my appetite

• Philip French, Observer [UK]

  It's solemn, tasteless, overdressed, a circus smelling of Chanel No 5 rather than sweat and sawdust.

• Jason Best, Movie Talk

  If the less-than-compelling plot leads you to drift off, it won't be long before another tour-de-force of agility or grace jerks you awake.

• Robbie Collin, Daily Telegraph

  A drippy linking story only reinforces the concert video feel, and it inevitably lacks the spark of live performance.

• Terry Staunton, Radio Times

  It's all beautifully choreographed, the performers are remarkable and the set design is wonderful, but even in 3D, writer/director Andrew Adamson's film lacks the exhilarating thrill of seeing the shows live.

• Derek Malcolm, This is London

  A stronger storyline might have helped.

• Grant Rollings, Sun Online

  Going to a real circus is much more fun.

• Stuart Heritage, Guardian [UK]

  The female lead only says one word during Worlds Away: "Help". I know exactly how she feels.

• Siobhan Synnot, Scotsman

  The film doesn't convey a sense of danger to Cirque's trapeze ballets and you'll struggle to find any sort of narrative logic to the Mexican wrestlers bouncing to Elvis numbers.

• Todd Jorgenson, Cinemalogue.com

  The lack of focus on a single story makes it feel more like a highlight reel or infomercial more than anything.

• Kimberley Jones, Austin Chronicle

  Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away is fine to look at, but good luck feeling anything.

• Bill Clark, FromTheBalcony

  As a showcase for Cirque's astonishing assortment of shows, it's a must-see for fans.

Read all 23 critic reviews