Critic Reviews

• Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

  It may not be earthshaking, but this calmly competent feel-good movie shows that a little sincerity can go a long way.

• Leonard Klady, Variety

  The material lacks a biting edge.

• Derek Adams, Time Out

  The kitsch on-air shopping sequences are often very funny.

• Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

  This screenplay was in no shape to be filmed; perhaps the filmmakers assumed that the mere presence of Eddie Murphy would repair its wrongs and give them a big opening weekend.

• Janet Maslin, New York Times

  The film never really explains where G came from or where he's going.

• James Berardinelli, ReelViews

  While Murphy probably has what it takes to make the comedian-to-serious actor transition, he needs to do what Martin, Williams, and Carrey did: hold out for a good script.

• Richard Luck, Film4

  Leaves you wondering whether there really is a God.

• Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide

  Good intentions abound, but we all know where they lead.

• Betty Jo Tucker, ReelTalk Movie Reviews

  A thought-provoking but uneven comedy.

• Ron Wells, Film Threat

  What does Hollywood teach us here? Materialism BAD! Television BAD! Media BAD!

• Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews

  The shallowness and lack of perspective of the story keeps everyone from delivering anything more than a mundane, mildly amusing comedy.

• Eugene Novikov, Film Blather

  It's always watchable, sometimes enjoyable, never special.

• Jim Shelby, Palo Alto Weekly

  [Murphy] is the only thing that isn't deadeningly predictable here, but it might still be worth the price of a ticket to see him continue to have such fun being a movie star.

• Kevin Fiddler, Henderson Home News (Henderson, NV)

  Eddie Murphy's downhill decline

• Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

  Eddie Murphy still can't pick scripts worth a damn. It's not the worst movie he ever made, but that comes as small comfort when you're suffering through it.

• Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer

  Oh brother, what a preposterous package it uses to deliver its warm and fuzzy message about What Really Matters.

• Lisa Osborne, Boxoffice Magazine

  A clever script and great comic timing from the entire cast take the infomercial parody to a whole new hilarious level.

• Tom Meek, Boston Phoenix

  Holy Man saddles its star with a leaden, melodramatic script that never allows the high jinks to get rolling at Murphy's hyperkinetic pace.

• Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

  A comedy about the crazy wisdom of a holy fool.

• Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope

  Although the film is a comedy, it can't overcome the fact that it is profoundly sad that people in this country are so spiritually starved they would seek fulfillment by watching a shopping channel.

Read all 23 critic reviews