Critic Reviews

• Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

  So much of this oddly named but perfectly played dramedy feels real, from the revisits to VHS tapes in parents' basements to the way a family member's glance can trigger fight-or-flight responses.

• Leah Rozen, The Wrap

  The performances, especially by Zissis and Lafleur, are effectively low-key, making their characters' occasional emotional outburst all the more compelling.

• Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

  There's a joke here, obviously, in the spectacle of two out-of-shape adults making fools of themselves at sporting events. Unfortunately it's the only joke, and it eventually wears thin.

• Kyle Smith, New York Post

  A decent idea for an episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond," "The Do-Deca-Pentathlon" falls short as a movie.

• Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

  "Do-Deca" can't always overcome the sensation that this is as much a no-budget as it is a no-holds-barred affair. But the sardonic slights and crafty insights are steadily there.

• John Hartl, Seattle Times

  If it were any shorter, it would lack depth. If it were any longer, it would most likely seem a strain. As is, there's an emotional honesty here that registers quickly and often.

• David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

  The Do-Deca-Pentathlon doesn't quite possess enough plot or substance to wholeheartedly warrant the full-length-feature treatment.

• Eric Melin, Scene-Stealers.com

  You've seen overgrown man child characters in plenty of Will Ferrell movies, but The Do-Deca Pentathlon is funny without playing for laughs.

• Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com

  The picture is strangely anticlimactic, despite highlighting numerous sporting events and a toxic domestic atmosphere, content to leisurely resolve discontent that feels like it deserves a more forceful approach.

• Mike Scott, Times-Picayune

  The story girding Do-Deca - though intriguing - doesn't feel as well-developed as previous Duplass scripts. As a result, it never quite resonates, style be darned.

• Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

  The wisest choice of all is to cast talented unknown actors, who make these characters and the absurd goings-on feel that much more real--and hence all the more funny.

• Drew McWeeny, HitFix

  I think the film gets better as it wears on, as the characters finally start to feel more relaxed and natural, and by the end, I bought the sentiment it reaches for.

• Brent Simon, Shockya.com

  A lot of fun as a comedy of men behaving badly, the Duplass brothers' film also digs into masculine norms and methods of communication and respect with a lot of recognizable truth.

• Leonard Maltin, Leonard Maltin's Picks

  The film is just 76 minutes long, but I left the theater feeling nourished and satisfied.

• Shawn Levy, Oregonian

  The Duplasses know how to put a small film like this together with soothing ease, and they never tax the audience with contrivances or excess baggage.

• Perry Seibert, TV Guide's Movie Guide

  Even though their films maintain an improvised feel, none of the sequences linger; once they make their dramatic point, the next one starts. Couple that efficiency with the movie's short running time, and you've got a small, simple, and successful indie.

• Eric Kohn, indieWIRE

  Although it assumes a light, inoffensive tone, Do Deca is unquestionably the brothers' most personal film by virtue of its antiheroes, a pair of warring siblings seemingly inspired by the directors themselves.

• Tim Grierson, IFC.com

  You get the sense that the Duplass brothers know in their hearts that their characters are hopelessly immature. But you also get the sense that the filmmakers understand their characters in a way that probably makes even them uncomfortable.

• Marshall Fine, Hollywood & Fine

  This movie understands the way a friendly contest can turn deadly serious, the way something trivial suddenly takes on life-changing importance.

• Todd Jorgenson, Cinemalogue.com

  The film overall feels like a series of cheesy home-video outtakes.

Read all 22 critic reviews