Critic Reviews

• Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

  It gives its fine actors room to breathe and behave -- and in Michelle Rodriguez's case, glow.

• Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

  For once, the advance buzz has been amply justified, thanks to an extraordinarily charismatic film debut by a non-professional named Michelle Rodriguez.

• Matt Wolf, Associated Press

  For all the violence on view, Kusama's script insists on a real, wholly unsentimental tenderness.

• Geoff Andrew, Time Out

  Kusama's direction is imaginative, her attention to detail makes for credibility and clarity with regard to the dilemmas faced by her determined young heroine, and Rodriguez is quite astonishing in the lead role.

• Louis B. Parks, Houston Chronicle

  It's obvious Kusama knew what she wanted and was in control, because all the key roles and scenes are played with a uniform tone and conviction.

• Peter Howell, Toronto Star

  While it wonderfully confounds our narrative expectations as a coming-of-age story and a romantic drama, it works on another level as a great sporting experience.

• James Mottram, Film4

  A bit of a lightweight.

• Jason Gorber, Film Scouts

  While parts were new and interesting, I can't make it a recommended view.

• Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

  It's a refreshingly straightforward and honest attempt, flying in the face of the rest of the product out there, which is either manipulating and dumb or tricky and arty.

• Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer

  It's sensitive, it avoids sentimentalism, and it wins our cheers by giving us believable characters that we care about.

• Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly

  A moving performance by newcomer Michelle Rodriguez showcases this moody Sundance showstopper about a Brooklyn teen who battles an age-old gender barrier.

• Mark Halverson, Sacramento News & Review

  The strength of this Romeo and gym-rat story is Rodriguez's performance. She is a vivid powder keg of repressed and resurrected dreams and desires.

• Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

  Like a smart boxer, Girlfight knows when to be light on its feet and when to hit hard.

• Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

  A low-key, naturalistic coming-of-age drama.

• Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope

  First-time writer-director Karyn Kusama makes it seem believable (the big question is, how come someone with this much talent isn't getting more opportunities in Hollywood?).

Read all 15 critic reviews