Critic Reviews

• Trevor Johnston, Time Out

  'Gambit' is like drinking cheap, warm champagne from a plastic cup.

• Stephen Dalton, Hollywood Reporter

  Even with a script by the Coen brothers, and a classy international cast led by Colin Firth, this contemporary London caper movie falls far short of its potential even as a lightweight comic romp.

• Leslie Felperin, Variety

  Middling in every respect.

• James Croot, Flicks.co.nz

  The right level of farce, tasteful nudity and general shenanigans for the film to not outstay its welcome, while admittedly not lingering long in the memory.

• Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com

  It's a fair comedy that's inoffensive and evocative of a different era, filled with enough eccentricity and sharp delivery to embrace as pleasant nonsense from two screenwriters exceptionally skilled with such buffoonery.

• Ed Whitfield, The Ooh Tray

  It's mirthless, languid and obvious. Well, you can relate.

• Rich Cline, Contactmusic.com

  Remade from a 1966 romp starring Michael Caine and Shirley MacLaine, this con artist action-comedy is enjoyably silly but never much more than that.

• Philip French, Observer [UK]

  A flat-footed remake of a mildly amusing 1966 caper movie ...

• Donald Clarke, Irish Times

  Given the quality of the film, we must assume that these Coens are no relation to the siblings who make films that rarely encourage you to poke out your eyes with rusty scissors.

• Charlotte O'Sullivan, This is London

  The mood isn't so much vintage as instantly old-hat.

• Alex Zane, Sun Online

  In spite of its strong cast and decent premise, something feels slightly off with Gambit.

• Christopher Tookey, Daily Mail [UK]

  Diaz's smile lights up the screen, though her role struggles to be as much as one-dimensional.

• Henry Fitzherbert, Daily Express

  You'll smile a few times and the cast work hard but interest and goodwill fizzles out.

• Nigel Andrews, Financial Times

  Against odds the film is sometimes funny, bandying its dated tropes like a badge of pride.

• Stella Papamichael, Radio Times

  Firth is nicely self-effacing and there are a few laughs to be had, but they are stunningly cheap.

• Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

  An awful lot of talent has been put to waste here.

• David Jenkins, Little White Lies

  Make it stop! Make it stop! Oh please just make it stop!

• Roz Laws, Birmingham Post

  It's all very dull and pedestrian, with very little tension or laughs.

• Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

  Disappointing caper comedy remake that never quite sparks to life, thanks to a lacklustre script, half-hearted performances, a lack of chemistry between the two leads and precious little in the way of actual laughs.

• Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph

  Gambit's a mixed bowl of nuts, all told, but if there's nothing in it that raises so much as a chuckle, you may need chuckling practice.

Read all 23 critic reviews