Critic Reviews

• Ty Burr, Boston Globe

  The movie's sharp-tongued and softhearted, a Sundance kind of film that mostly sidesteps generic Sundanceyness.

• Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader

  Sarah Koskoff's screenplay is flagrantly duplicitous, introducing the heroine as a self-pitying sloth, then trying to pass her off as likable by making nearly all the other characters drips, snobs, or unfeeling scolds.

• Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

  Succeeds almost entirely on the strength of Melanie Lynskey's heartfelt and humorous performance in the lead role.

• G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle

  Sarah Koskoff's play-it-safe script and Louiso's heavy-handed direction combine to kill the potential of "Hello I Must Be Going."

• Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

  Lynskey lets us see, from deep within Amy's fog, an instinctual desire to please, and a sense of innocent wonderment at how she could possibly have gotten into such a mess.

• Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

  Much credit goes here to Christopher Abbott, whose persuasive performance bridges the gap. He's like a living embodiment of the cliche, "I love you enough for the both of us."

• Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune

  Lynskey imbues the self-doubting Amy with such lightness that she manages to make neediness appealing.

• Brent Simon, Shared Darkness

  A fine and funny film balanced perfectly between heartbreak and uplift, anchored by a rich, superlative turn from Melanie Lynskey.

• Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

  "Hello I Must Be Going" is at once an intriguing character study and a refreshingly offbeat romance.

• Emily S. Mendel, culturevulture.net

  I'm of two minds about Hello I Must Be Going. It's a slow-paced movie, and at times, too slow ... Yet the fine actors, especially the emotive-faced Melanie Lynskey and the restrained Blythe Danner, elevate the film well beyond its story line.

• Todd Jorgenson, Cinemalogue.com

  Sharp writing and solid performances elevate this modest low-budget romance.

• Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle

  The film is worth seeing for the performances, but the drama is a nonstarter.

• Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press

  Sharp enough to point out some compelling issues without pretending that it has all the answers.

• Austin Kennedy, Sin Magazine

  It's harmless, and there's really nothing outright awful about the movie, it just could have been so much better if the filmmakers thought outside of the Sundance box for this one.

• Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

  It has plenty of little moments for a great actress to shine. It's just not very deep, or particularly fresh.

• Shawn Levy, Oregonian

  The script's contrivances and the director's lax handling aren't enough to hold you.

• Matt Pais, RedEye

  Familiar messes that are somewhat too easily cleaned up.

• Annlee Ellingson, Paste Magazine

  [Lynskey] woefully underrated as an actress, for her work in Hello I Must Be Going is subtle and tender.

Read all 18 critic reviews