Synopsis
A bullied teen experiences a turning point summer in which he learns to stand up for himself.
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Cast
- Blake CooperBobby Marks
- Donald SutherlandDr. Kahn
- Luke WilsonMarty Marks
- Liana LiberatoMichelle Marks
- Danielle Rose RussellJoanie Williams
- Luke BenwardPete Marino
- Sam KeeleyJim Smith
- Beau KnappWillie Rumson
- Judy GreerLenore Marks
- Ryan BoudreauDougie Newman
Recommendations
- 88
Chicago Sun-Times
It’s a sweet and knowing and lovely and funny story, but occasionally the spell of warm nostalgia is broken by painful moments of family heartbreak and cruel bullying. - 88
Washington Post
Although Measure of a Man is less gut-wrenching than director Jim Loach’s only previous theatrical film, “Oranges and Sunshine” — about the cruel fate of unwanted children shipped from England to Australia during the United Kingdom’s mid-20th-century “child migrant” program — the British filmmaker shows himself to have an affinity for tales of the abuse of power. - 75
ReelViews
Measure of a Man, the sophomore feature effort from British director Jim Loach (the son of the famed filmmaker Ken Loach), effectively captures this difficult-to-pin-down feeling with a largely unsentimental coming-of-age story based on Robert Lipsyte’s novel, “One Fat Summer.” - 70
Los Angeles Times
While it might not bring much that's new to the coming-of-age playbook, British filmmaker Jim Loach's sensitively-observed dramedy, Measure of a Man, offers decisive proof that fresh and different is overrated when you've got a strong cast, a beautifully written script and fittingly measured direction. - 70
Village Voice
The portentously titled Measure of a Man is at once an escapist fantasy and sensitive portrait of adolescent transformation. - 50
Philadelphia Daily News
While the movie serves as a pleasant piece of nostalgia, it’s not very deeply felt, and mostly serves to remind us of other, better movies that have covered similar territory, like Adventureland. - 50
Arizona Republic
The elements are in place for a decent little movie, but Loach overplays everything, offering nothing in the way of surprises. Bobby’s supposed transformation isn’t particularly revelatory, but then, neither is anything else. - 50
The Hollywood Reporter
But the synthesis is underwhelming on screen where it might have resonated in Lipsyte's book. Here, Measure becomes a mildly nostalgic, mildly romantic entry in a genre that, more than most, requires that the viewer feels a personal connection to the misfit protagonist on screen.
