Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
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72% of critics liked it
(158 reviews) -
61% of users liked it
(451,656 ratings)
The best-selling series of subversive children's books from author Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) come to the screen in this black comedy for the whole family (and how often do you get to see one of those?). The Baudelaire siblings -- gadget freak Violet (Emily Browning), bookworm Klaus… More The best-selling series of subversive children's books from author Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) come to the screen in this black comedy for the whole family (and how often do you get to see one of those?). The Baudelaire siblings -- gadget freak Violet (Emily Browning), bookworm Klaus (Liam Aiken), and baby Sunny (Kara Hoffman and Shelby Hoffman) -- were living a fairy-tale existence with their parents until they died in a fire that destroyed the family home. With few close relatives and a large fortune the children won't inherit until they reach adulthood, the Baudelaire children are left in the care of the peculiar Count Olaf (Jim Carrey), an out-of-work actor who would love nothing more than to get his hands on the kids' money. It doesn't take long for the children to figure out that Count Olaf is up to no good, and they try to steer clear of his various murderous schemes with the help of wildly paranoid Aunt Josephine (Meryl Streep) and snake-fancying Uncle Monty (Billy Connolly). Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events also features Catherine O'Hara, Timothy Spall, Cedric the Entertainer, and Luis Guzman; Jude Law narrates in the guise of author Snicket. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Brad Silberling
- Written By
- Robert Gordon
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Dec 17, 2004 Wide
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Hank Sartin, Chicago Reader
Episodic but entertaining.
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Derek Adams, Time Out
It's all a bit superficial, but highly entertaining, wickedly funny, and alluring enough to make you want to start reading the books.
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David Edelstein, Slate
Heinrichs helps take your mind off the slack direction and the letdown of a climax, which ought to make the kiddies hurl Gummi Bears at the screen.
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Lou Lumenick, New York Post
A lavishly mounted blockbuster that has little personality of its own except on a purely visual level.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
It just kind of spins its wheels.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Jim Carrey
as Llamando Conde Olaf
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Liam Aiken
as Klaus Baudelaire
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Emily Browning
as Violet Baudelaire
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Kara Hoffman
as Sunny Baudelaire
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Shelby Hoffman
as Sunny Baudelaire
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Jude Law
as Lemony Snicket
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Timothy Spall
as Mr. Poe
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Catherine O'Hara
as Justice Strauss
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Billy Connolly
as Uncle Monty
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Meryl Streep
as Aunt Josephine
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Luis Guzman
as Bald Man
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Jamie Harris
as Hook-Handed Man
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Craig Ferguson
as Person of Indeterminate Gender
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Jennifer Coolidge
as White Faced Woman No. 1
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Jane Adams (II)
as White Faced Woman No. 2
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Cedric the Entertainer
as Constable



