Second Best

Second Best (2003)

  • 41% of critics liked it
    (17 reviews)

  • 37% of users liked it
    (489 ratings)

Writer Eric Weber (author of the infamous paperback How to Pick Up Girls) directs his screenplay Second Best. Set in New Jersey, the story concerns a group of fiftysomething men dealing with their feelings of inadequacy. Struggling writer Elliot (Joe Pantoliano) is the most desperate of the bunch,… More

R,
Directed By
Written By
Eric Weber
Genres
Comedy
In Theaters
Jan 16, 2004 Wide
Velocity Films

Critic Reviews

  • Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

    While the dialogue and characterizations frequently resonate with uncomfortable truths and some genuine humor, the central character's quirks are far more irritating than illuminating.

  • Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

    Might have made a good stage monologue, but as a film it's overstated and barely baked.

  • Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

    Unfortunately there's nothing very sympathetic about Elliot, or even interesting.

  • Kyle Smith, New York Post

    A sour and pointless exercise.

  • Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

    Though the essays are smartly written and Pantoliano manages to make Elliot vaguely sympathetic, Second Best is a long slog in the dumps.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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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