Critic Reviews

• Michael Upchurch, Seattle Times

  They showcase not just the acting chops of Colin Firth, Lily Tomlin, Julia Stiles and others, but some fresh writing-directing talents, too.

• Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle

  "Stars in Shorts" lives up to its title by offering the likes of Judi Dench, Colin Firth, Jason Alexander, Keira Knightley, Lily Tomlin, Kenneth Branagh and Julia Stiles in films ranging from eight to 25 minutes.

• Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

  The performances in tandem with the writing take most of these seven movies to interesting places.

• Stephen Holden, New York Times

  Its most consistent pleasures derive more from its performances than from storytelling.

• Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

  None of the seven shorts here is worth a single, well-made feature.

• Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

  This assemblage of star-filled shorts makes for a generally rewarding grab bag.

• Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune

  It doesn't deliver a consistently enjoyable experience, because the quality of this compilation varies wildly.

• Kelly Vance, East Bay Express

  Most of the shorts in this ambitious package are worthy of expanding for their own sakes.

• Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

  Overall, this is a decent little collection, and worth seeing for those seeking something different.

• David Noh, Film Journal International

  A very mixed bag of short films, but Lily Tomlin, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Judi Dench and Penny Ryder make it worth catching.

• Sarah Boslaugh, PopMatters

  ...a package of short films starring big-name stars, and it's hard to think how else you would get to see so many doing what they do best in a single evening...

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

  Four of the seven short films are worthwhile. That sounds like wait-for-video to me.

• Gerald Peary, Boston Phoenix

  The celebs are having a holiday good time, even when the stories aren't particularly distinguished.

Read all 13 critic reviews