Critic Reviews

• Tom Huddleston, Time Out

  An enjoyable, fitfully engaging but ever-so-slightly forgettable minor-key political comedy.

• Stephanie Zacharek, NPR

  Grassroots is a movie where bad ideas, because they're the ones championed by the "correct" side, are king. It never acknowledges that sometimes idealism is just another kind of manipulation.

• Kyle Smith, New York Post

  At first glance, "Grassroots" doesn't seem like much of an idea for a movie. Nor at second, third or fourth glance.

• Stephen Holden, New York Times

  Although it only glosses the mechanics of local politics, it exudes an endearingly scruffy charm.

• Andrew Schenker, Time Out New York

  This is one film as misguided as the business-as-usual subject it aims to critique.

• Nick Schager, Village Voice

  Grassroots disingenuously has it both ways, reducing politics first to a David-versus-Goliath adventure, and then to an everyone-is-cool bowl of mush.

• Niki Boyle, The List

  A movie populated by dislikeable characters and written/directed with no aplomb whatsoever ...

• Philip French, Observer [UK]

  [A] refreshing real-life political story ...

• Rich Cline, Contactmusic.com

  There's a terrific sense of righteous anger in this scruffy comedy about disenfranchised people shaking American politics to its core.

• Mike McCahill, Guardian [UK]

  Proves very likable, if a little Sorkin-lite.

• Robbie Collin, Daily Telegraph

  You'll root for the giant all the way.

• Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

  Engaging, enjoyable and extremely well timed political comedy/drama with a strong script and a pair of terrific performances from Jason Biggs and Joel David Moore.

• James Mottram, Total Film

  With Avatar's Moore on inspiring form, and Biggs the best he's been since early Pie, this is still worth your vote.

• Anton Bitel, Eye for Film

  Grassroots is so in love with its titular spirit that an underlying note of cynicism is never fully embraced... With results at the ballot so close to the line, though, one might reasonably expect a bit of a mixed message to emerge.

• Shaun Munro, What Culture

  For what it's worth, Grassroots features Cedric the Entertainer's best performance to date.

• Prairie Miller, Long Island Press

  You don't have to look too far these days to notice films abounding with jobless and financially struggling characters, in stark contrast to the recession-proof movies they inhabit. Top that off with emerging election year movies, and enter Grassroots.

• Marshall Fine, Hollywood & Fine

  A smarter movie than you expect...It's probably naïve, but it's also enjoyable and even a little thought-provoking.

• Nora Lee Mandel, Film-Forward.com

  A call to citizen participation [through a] portrait of shoe leather political organizing pre-social media is lively, but seems more enjoyably quaint than inspiring.

• David Noh, Film Journal International

  Tale of a Seattle race for city council is strident and ultimately tiresome.

Read all 19 critic reviews