Phil

Name: Phil
Director: Greg Kinnear
Released: 2019

Synopsis

A depressed dentist in mid-life crisis tries to learn why one of his happiest patients suddenly commits suicide, and a dark comedic adventure ensues.

80
Film Threat
This deep-thoughts comedy is a must-watch for fans of Greg’s, but also for anyone who wants something beyond frat boy comedy or the typical Apatovian-adjacent improv stuff that has become de rigueur at this point. It’s a special movie that I hope people enjoy as much as I did.
60
Wall Street Journal
It’s a daring movie in its way—suicide is often inexplicable, and Phil treats it exactly that way. But Mr. Kinnear might have had more confidence in his audience, and maybe in himself.
42
IndieWire
As a feat of masochism, Phil is an impressive trick. As a movie, it’s a ghastly mess.
38
RogerEbert.com
A project clearly made by a first-time actor-turned-director, who is most concerned with their own scenes and casting.
30
Variety
Phil is a trifle, and there’s no harm in that, but it’s an unconvincing trifle. The words “coy” and “whimsical” scarcely do justice to its coy whimsicality.
30
Los Angeles Times
It approaches everything from suicide to Socrates with a facile touch, dealing with serious issues with an almost startling lack of depth and intelligence.
25
Observer
The result is a limp and minor effort both in front of the camera and behind it.
20
The Hollywood Reporter
The kind of bad movie that makes you wonder, "How did so many good actors decide to take this job?," this one comes with an easy answer: First-time director Greg Kinnear presumably used a career's worth of goodwill to enlist co-stars Emily Mortimer, Luke Wilson and others.