Sixty Six (2006)

63% of critics liked it
(51 reviews)
65% of users liked it
(3,032 ratings)

A 12-year-old Jewish boy teetering on the cusp of manhood finds his eagerly anticipated Bar Mitzvah threatened by a lethal combination of World Cup fever, the loss of the family business, and the shenanigans of a mischievous elder sibling in a coming-of-age comedy directed by Paul Weiland and… More A 12-year-old Jewish boy teetering on the cusp of manhood finds his eagerly anticipated Bar Mitzvah threatened by a lethal combination of World Cup fever, the loss of the family business, and the shenanigans of a mischievous elder sibling in a coming-of-age comedy directed by Paul Weiland and starring Helena Bonham Carter, Stephen Rea, and Gregg Sulkin. The year is 1966, and Bernie Rubens (Sulkin) is about to become a man. As the date of his Bar Mitzvah draws nearer, however, it seems like the stars have aligned to prevent it from being the blow-out bash he has always dreamt of. Not only is his wayward older brother drawing away all the attention in the family, but his father's business is slowly going down the drain as well. To make matters worse, England has finally fought their way to the World Cup Final, and the big game is scheduled for the very same day as Bernie's Bar Mitzvah. Will Bernie's friends and family be able to resist World Cup fever and make it to the celebration he has gleefully anticipated his entire childhood, or will the mania that has overtaken all of England pull a red card on the day that was supposed to be a clean-shot goal? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Paul Weiland
Written By: Bridget O'Connor, Peter Staughan
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 1, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Jan 1, 2009
Studio: Sky Island Films

Critic Reviews

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Since Mr. Weiland himself had grown up in a Jewish section of North London, he was able to include many details of his own childhood.
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
It's labeled a 'true-ish story', and the results are cheeky fun.
Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News
Sixty Six is also about accepting parents with all their frailties, coming to terms with the unfairness of life, and finding a way to switch the focus to the wonders we do have to celebrate.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The story line sounds plain and simple, but the movie is enlightened by Bernie's impassioned narration and by a gallery of small comic details.
Tom Russo, Boston Globe
[Director] Weiland pours so much heart into his autobiographically 'true-ish' story that accessibility is a nonissue.
Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times
Sixty Six may find a niche audience, but instead of depicting a boy's first steps toward manhood -- ceremony aside -- it turns into an uninvolving portrait of self-absorption.
Leo Goldsmith, indieWIRE
Cleaves too closely to the pattern set out by more original films with similar subject matter. Its obvious distinctions of time and place come through in clever details, but these don't seem to serve Weiland's autobiography so much as situate it into a fa
Jason Heck, Kansas City Star
A film that tries too hard and wastes a cast of skilled veterans and talented newcomers.
David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com
Offbeat, nostalgic, wonderful.
Jeanne Kaplan, Kaplan vs. Kaplan
Weiland has given us something we can cheer and feel good about.
Daniel M. Kimmel, The Jewish Advocate
...the sort of Jewish film that the whole family can enjoy without feeling they're fulfilling an obligation to see it.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
...a charming coming-of-age period piece about the trials and tribulations one young boy must face in his quest to become a man.
Sam Adams, AV Club
Weiland's occasional heavy-handedness is more than redeemed by the lightness of his cast.
Stan Hall, Oregonian
It does cast Helena Bonham Carter against type as a devoted mother and housewife, and, for soccer nuts, integrate pristine footage from the '66 Cup.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Sweet if minor coming of age comedy drama with a winning performance from Gregg Sulkin as Bernie the young boy who has almost everything that can go wrong leading up to his Bar Mitzvah go wrong. Helena Bonham Carter and Eddie Marsan are effective as his parents. Drags a little but the… More
Sweet if minor coming of age comedy drama with a winning performance from Gregg Sulkin as Bernie the young boy who has almost everything that can go wrong leading up to his Bar Mitzvah go wrong. Helena Bonham Carter and Eddie Marsan are effective as his parents. Drags a little but the ending makes up it.
Anthony L

A very sweet little film with a good cast, nice story and feel good factor. It wasn't as funny as I'd thought it would be, it's actually more sentimental than that but quite touching all the same.
Dean M

Very charming comedy with heartwarming based on the real-life experience about a 12-year-old's Bar Mitzvah becomes a complete disaster because of the World Cup Final.