View from the Top (2002)

14% of critics liked it
(123 reviews)
35% of users liked it
(38,448 ratings)

Brazilian filmmaker Bruno Barreto directs this comic look at the world of flight attendants starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Donna, a small town Nevada woman who dreams of seeing the world by becoming a first class international stewardess. Lacking the requisite poise and class, Donna finds a mentor in… More Brazilian filmmaker Bruno Barreto directs this comic look at the world of flight attendants starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Donna, a small town Nevada woman who dreams of seeing the world by becoming a first class international stewardess. Lacking the requisite poise and class, Donna finds a mentor in retired trade veteran Sally (Candice Bergen), a wealthy, best-selling author who assists with advice and her considerable influence. Despite Sally's help, Donna finds the process of fulfilling her career ambitions more difficult than she imagined when she's betrayed by a trusted friend (Christina Applegate) during flight training, a daunting course taught by the bitter John Whitney (Mike Myers), a once-aspiring steward whose eye condition kept him forever out of the friendly skies. Donna also faces a romantic crisis when she falls for a handsome law student (Mark Ruffalo) whose education consigns him to Ohio, far away from the major urban hubs Donna dreams of working. A View from the Top (2002) costars Rob Lowe, Josh Malina, Kelly Preston and Jon Polito. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Bruno Barreto
Written By: Eric Wald
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 21, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Sep 9, 2003
Studio: Miramax Films

Critic Reviews

Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
A flat, superficial comedy that never establishes a tone.
Hap Erstein, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Paltrow cannot begin to save this unfunny flight attendant comedy that should have gone direct to video.
Rex Reed, New York Observer
The characters have no wit or charm, the plot has no conflict or development, nothing happens for any reason other than script requirements.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
It's just sweet and light, but it's got kind of giddy charm to it ...
Dennis Lim, Village Voice
Eventually, the exhaust roar of condescending affirmation drowns all else out.
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic
If this is the View From the Top, I'd hate to see the View From the Bottom.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
What was Gwyneth Paltrow thinking?
Martin Scribbs, Low IQ Canadian
Miss Paltrow? We're gonna need that Oscar back.
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
[A]n airy bit of fluff, a soap bubble of a movie.
Staci Layne Wilson, Fantastica Daily
Even on DVD, you won't have to fasten your seatbelt for this box office dud.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
Teeters on the edge of lightweight, bland fare more associated with what's on airline menus. But the cast adds flavor and energy to the otherwise unremarkable itinerary.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
With the exception of Myers, it's not very funny; the romance is insipid; the plot is tedious; and the themes are redundant.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Not even cameos by Rob Lowe as a copilot, Chad Everett as Sally's Weston's husband, or George Kennedy as an airline passenger can rev up this plummeting plane wreck.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
Anyone annoyed by the film's faux-feminist message should be equally annoyed by the interactive menus straining to give the fluffy, bare-bones features collected here an airport-themed context.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
O filme pode até não ser uma obra-de-arte, mas está longe de ser o desastre que muitos anunciaram. Ao menos, ele diverte.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Daniel P

A bad movie that's not without its good moments, but one that just clunks along from head-scratcher to head-scratcher. Mike Myers's character is quite funny, and Gwyneth Paltrow does ok, but they have nothing to work with.
Arash X

Uninteresting, pointless & predictable
Ginny

Not that Im segregating movies according to gender but this is just totally a chick flick. Anyway I like this one cause its got a nice influential message and its a feel good movie but its not exactly a comedy.
Candy R

Poor plot. Gwyneth's character is surprising.
Leigh R

Weird.
Naughtia N

I thought this movie was so much fun to watch. You get to know about the lives of three stewardesses who work for a low budget company. One of the stewardesses wants more and struggles to get to top of the business. The movie is very easy going and funny.
Andrew F

One of the weirdest movie experiences of my life.
Juli R

It's like someone wrote my True LIfe story, except in my story, the airlines wouldn't hire me. Because I failed the personality test. Whatever, United! I would have been great! A movie for wanna-be flight attendants who should have been pilots.
Sunil J

Somewhat enjoyable but still something about it keeps you from ever wanting to watch it again.
Leo L

Funny.
FanGirl B

Alright movie until the end *spoiler* when she gives up all her dreams and career plans to settle for her man, come on, that sucks, he should follow her if he really loves her and she's earning the bacon, she shouldn't have to give up on her life's goal for him.… More
Alright movie until the end *spoiler* when she gives up all her dreams and career plans to settle for her man, come on, that sucks, he should follow her if he really loves her and she's earning the bacon, she shouldn't have to give up on her life's goal for him. Get a new guy.