Critic Reviews
Guy Thing, A (2003) Rank 5 Reviews
Expert Review Summary
based on (171) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
Reviews by Score:
UpcomingDiscs.com (Kevin Hartle)
The King's Room (Paul Perkins)
San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
Film Monthly (Hank Yuloff)
DVDwolf (Rob Paul)
MovieEye.com (Gareth Von Kallenbach)
ninth symphony films
CountingDown.com (Larry Carroll)
MovieEye.com (David Litton)
Movie-Vault.com (Scott Spicciati)
dvdfuture.com (George Castillo)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
Lee, loose and freewheeling, is at his best since Chasing Amy . ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
San Francisco Examiner (Joe Leydon)
Here and there amid the lightly amusing fluff, you will find an unexpected quirk, a perversely amusing flourish, or a totally twisted supporting character. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at San Francisco Examiner (Joe Leydon)
Movie Gazette (Gary Panton)
JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
A Guide to Current DVD (Aaron Beierle)
filethirteen.com
Reel Movie Critic (George O. Singleton)
Bucket Reviews (Daniel Leonhard)
BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
The Cranky Critic (Chuck Schwartz)
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Film Blather (Eugene Novikov)
DVD Verdict (Michael Stailey)
digitallyOBSESSED.com (Kevin Clemons)
Guess the Gross
Recently, I have been reading about the Auteur Theory, an idea first championed by European filmmakers in the 1960's which caught on here in the States through the writings of critic Andrew Sarris. The theory postulates that the director is the creative ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Guess the Gross
DVD Town (John J. Puccio)
The cast boasts three shining young stars: Jason Lee ("Chasing Amy," "Dogma," "Almost Famous," "Heartbreakers"), Julia Stiles ("O," "Save the Last Dance," "10 Things I Hate About You"), and Selma Blair ("The Sweetest Thing," "Cruel Intentions"). Yet in ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at DVD Town (John J. Puccio)
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
The New York Times - Family Movie Guide (Peter M. Nichols)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Film Threat (Kevin Carr)
Gets off to a rocky start as you try to rationalize Lee’s place in the plot, but it soon has enough surprises and funny moments to keep you watching to the end. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Film Threat (Kevin Carr)
eye WEEKLY (Catharine Tunnacliffe)
Houston Community Newspapers (Gary Brown)
Reeling Reviews (Robin Clifford)
...its good nature and likable cast help to raise it above the doldrums. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Reeling Reviews (Robin Clifford)
The Boston Phoenix
Reeling Reviews (Robin and Laura Clifford)
Future Movies (Ed Colley)
Screen It! Entertainment Reviews for Parents
BBC Films (Jason Best)
Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
The (Georgetown) Hoya
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
USA Today (Claudia Puig)
Actually is a bit of a hoot. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at USA Today (Claudia Puig)
Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Never going to be remembered as a tying-the-knot screwball classic (it probably won't be remembered past March), but one could do worse. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Parent Previews
One Guy's Opinion (Frank Swietek)
Hollywood Report Card (Ross Anthony)
Reeling Reviews (Laura Clifford)
"A Guy Thing" is a weird hybrid of gross-out humor for the guys and romantic comedy for the ladies that does neither genre justice yet delivers a few unexpectedly good moments amidst the pandering obvious ones. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Reeling Reviews (Laura Clifford)
The Massachusetts Daily Collegian (Johnny Donaldson)
Just what we needed so soon after Just Married - more dumb piffle about young marriage. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at The Massachusetts Daily Collegian (Johnny Donaldson)
Jam! Movies (Liz Braun)
Bound to appeal to every adolescent male, A Guy Thing is often gross, stupid and embarrassing, and, against all the odds, often very funny as well. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Jam! Movies (Liz Braun)
Toronto Star (Peter Howell)
A bale of romantic fluff that is a lot funnier than it has any right to be. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Toronto Star (Peter Howell)
Lee's Movie Info (Gareth J. Von Kallenbach)
While predictable and not very original, this is a funny movie. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Lee's Movie Info (Gareth J. Von Kallenbach)
Village Voice (Anya Kamenetz)
In her role as Becky the half-assed tiki girl, Stiles's left-footedness can finally be named, only one of the many pleasures tugging this girl-snatches-guy-from-altar comedy a notch above standard. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Village Voice (Anya Kamenetz)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
While it displays precious little originality or ingenuity, A Guy Thing is less graceless than most of its ilk and benefits from a likable cast. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Seattle Post-Intelligencer
PopMatters (Cynthia Fuchs)
Given that Stiles has had recent experience with a tepid romantic comedy -- the one she made with Mr. Sarah Michelle Gellar, Down to You -- it's hard to imagine why she signed on for A Guy Thing. Maybe it's that the script borrows heavily from Meet the ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at PopMatters (Cynthia Fuchs)
Boxoffice Magazine
La Presse, Montréal (--)
New York Post (Lou Lumenick)
You could do far worse in the current marketplace. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at New York Post (Lou Lumenick)
Eclipse Magazine (Sean O'Connell)
Sets the bar of taste low, then proceeds to limbo underneath it. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Eclipse Magazine (Sean O'Connell)
Film Freak Central (Walter Chaw)
Something only instantly forgettable suddenly seems a lot better than it probably actually is. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Film Freak Central (Walter Chaw)
Premiere Magazine (Susannah Gora)
Of course, the story line is painfully predictable, but everyone involved does such an entertaining job that it doesn't really seem to matter. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Premiere Magazine (Susannah Gora)
Sacramento Bee (Joe Baltake)
A Guy Thing is only a slight improvement over Down to You but is actually more of a disappointment, considering that in the ensuing years, its young stars have moved on to better things. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Sacramento Bee (Joe Baltake)
Seattle Times (Moira MacDonald)
Gets bogged down by predictable supporting characters and some tasteless humor. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Seattle Times (Moira MacDonald)
St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt (St. Paul))
A surprising comedy with likable characters, memorable gags and two running jokes ... that are funny every time the movie revisits them. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt (St. Paul))
Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
Sometimes funny, often strained comedy. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
A charmer when it wants to be, if only because the characters on display are ones we enjoy spending time with. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Sue Pierman)
Lee always is a pleasure to watch; and his put-upon, wisecracking persona is perfect as the Everyman to whom anything and everything can happen the week before his wedding. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Sue Pierman)
Detroit Free Press (John Monaghan)
What should have been an entertaining take on screwball comedy conventions with a likable cast is undermined by cheap laughs. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Detroit Free Press (John Monaghan)
TV Guide (Maitland McDonagh)
The formulaic mechanical plot machinations benefit greatly from the presence of the vivacious Stiles, gravely beautiful Blair and personable Lee, who radiates fundamental decency without seeming like a sap. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at TV Guide (Maitland McDonagh)
Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Manages more than a few laughs. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Palo Alto Online (Tyler Hanley)
filmcritic.com (Aaron Lazenby)
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) (Jeffrey Westhoff)
The material's familiarity doesn't help, but what really drags down A Guy Thing is that the filmmakers try to cram too much into it. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) (Jeffrey Westhoff)
Detroit News (Susan Stark)
ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
Movie Navigator (Shaun Sages)
SPLICEDwire (Rob Blackwelder)
Movie Habit (Matt Anderson)
Perth Sunday Times
Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
Though A Guy Thing has a good cast and some funny moments, there's something forced and a little frowzy about the way it's put together. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
CinemaSpeak.com (Kim Justice)
Xiibaro Productions (David Perry)
Moda Magazine (Brian Orndorf)
Palo Alto Weekly (Tyler Hanley)
The quirky comedic timing of skater-turned-thespian Jason Lee helps resuscitate a screenplay choking on its own predictability and awkwardly odd scenarios. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Palo Alto Weekly (Tyler Hanley)
DVD Clinic ("Indiana Sev")
Los Angeles Daily News (Bob Strauss)
A series of hit-and-miss gags and embarrassing situations that should be a lot more suspenseful. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Los Angeles Daily News (Bob Strauss)
Internet Reviews (Steve Rhodes)
A pretty stupid comedy that has a much better cast than it deserves. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Internet Reviews (Steve Rhodes)
ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
ShowBIZ Data (--)
Arizona Republic (Bill Muller)
Here's a rule of thumb: If the coincidences in your movie have longer odds than Carrot Top perfecting cold fusion, you might be straining the old believability factor. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Arizona Republic (Bill Muller)
Mr. Cranky Rates the Movies (Mr. Cranky)
Citysearch (Dan Fazio)
In the end, this hit-or-miss comedy will stick with you about as long as a rented tux. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Citysearch (Dan Fazio)
RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland) (Harry Guerin)
A date movie - but only if your other option is a documentary on plates. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland) (Harry Guerin)
Empire Magazine (--)
Sunday Times (Australia) (Shannon J. Harvey)
Julia Stiles provides the one shining light in an otherwise dull, unfunny, cringe-inducing comedy caper. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Sunday Times (Australia) (Shannon J. Harvey)
Jam! Movies (Steve Tilley)
The occasional good moments -- and there are some, let's be fair -- get lost in a crowd of cliches and forced comedy. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Jam! Movies (Steve Tilley)
Sacramento News & Review (Jim Lane)
Gags and subplots misfire left and right, either a build-up that doesn't pay off, or a half-baked punchline that comes out of nowhere, and director Chris Koch just goes with the lurching flow of it all. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Sacramento News & Review (Jim Lane)
Greenwich Village Gazette (Eric Lurio)
Mediasharx (Paul Fischer)
Supercala.com (John Venable)
...the funny stuff ain't all that funny. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Supercala.com (John Venable)
Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)
It's just off enough to lumber along. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)
filmcritic.com (Aaron Lazenby)
It's powered by an increasingly hard to believe series of coincidences, so flagrantly employed that you might even start to believe that A Guy Thing is a clever parody of mindless romantic comedies. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at filmcritic.com (Aaron Lazenby)
Chicago Reader (Staff (Not credited))
I didn't buy half of the movie's scattershot gags, but the leads are sharp and the supporting cast sturdy. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Chicago Reader (Staff (Not credited))
DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
...wasn't as bad as suffering through Just Married , but that's a little like saying you'd rather cross the Atlantic in the Hindenburg than the Titanic. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
Variety (Dennis Harvey)
Does get slightly better as it goes along. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Variety (Dennis Harvey)
LA Weekly (Hazel-Dawn Dumpert)
Transcends its video-box-shelf-filler pedigree only when it's actually indulging in guy stuff, mostly of the frat-boy, beer-commercial variety. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at LA Weekly (Hazel-Dawn Dumpert)
Boston Globe (Ty Burr)
A pleasant, thin, hammerlocked movie about the pleasures of breaking free - it's the Cliff Notes version of anarchic classics like ''Bringing Up Baby'' or ''What's Up, Doc?'' Should you want to take the graduate course, you'll find those films at your ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Boston Globe (Ty Burr)
New York Daily News (Jack Mathews)
The stars have little opportunity to engage their characters. The gang-written screenplay and Chris Koch's artless direction turn their scenes into a series of broad, overplayed comic sketches. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at New York Daily News (Jack Mathews)
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Rick Groen)
You might believe that a movie comedy requires no visual rhythm, and that entire scenes -- especially those big set-pieces -- benefit greatly from a shooting style devoid of imagination and unremittingly flat. If so, A Guy Thing is surely your thing. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Rick Groen)
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
As an episode of a screwball sitcom, such as Three's Company, perhaps the main plot of A GUY THING might have proven acceptable fare. As a major motion picture release, a story this redundant and jokes this poor border on inexcusable. This is especially t ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
The Movie Chicks
Film Quips Online (John R. McEwen)
Dark Horizons (Garth Franklin)
Los Angeles Times (Manohla Dargis)
The three leads go through the motions with goofy geniality, and director Chris Koch has enlisted some consummate character actors -- to help hold up the sagging jokes and story line. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Los Angeles Times (Manohla Dargis)
Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
As middling comedies go, this is neither as smart as it ought to be nor as dumb as you'd expect. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
Salon.com (Stephanie Zacharek)
Stumbles along laboriously, its jokes following one after another in a sloppy, flat-footed walk. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Salon.com (Stephanie Zacharek)
Screen It! (Jim Judy)
So much of it misfires that it's not as clever, funny or entertaining as it might have been. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Screen It! (Jim Judy)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
With A Guy Thing, a dubious achievement has occurred — here we have characters in a romantic comedy who exhibit the kind of mind-boggling stupidity previously reserved for protagonists in Grade Z horror movies. When faced with a minor setback, these ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Miami Herald (Connie Ogle)
What in heaven's name is Julia Stiles doing in this mess? ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Miami Herald (Connie Ogle)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)
The bad thing about A Guy Thing isn't the talent of its stars but the warmed-over triteness of the material they're forced to work with. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)
Globe and Mail (Rick Groen)
A laugh, several laughs, are not only expected but flat-out demanded. Try as I might, I couldn't produce any. Let's hope you have better luck. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Globe and Mail (Rick Groen)
Hollywood.com (Kit Bowen)
A Guy Thing is just about as predictable a romantic comedy as you can get, save for a few laughs here and there. Unless you're hard-up for something to see or perhaps on a first date, give it a pass. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Hollywood.com (Kit Bowen)
Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
[The] antics are so moronic... so poorly conceived and lamely executed that our laughter is more incredulous than amused. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
If you ever admired Julia Stiles, Selma Blair and Jason Lee -- and who didn't? -- don't watch them crush their careers in this laugh-free romantic comedy from the director of Snow Day . ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) (Jonathan R. Perry)
Laboring through the pigeon-toed waddle of “just-add-water” mediocrity in “A Guy Thing” reinforces three immutable truths: A) Jason Lee is wasted on romantic comedy; B) Sexually transmitted disease is not funny; and C) Garbage seems marginally less repugn ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) (Jonathan R. Perry)
The Movie Insider (Lynda Lin)
San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
A childish, empty effort. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
Jason Lee seems to have been bitten by a vampire who sucked out all his prickly charisma. You see the promise of stardom dribbling through his fingers. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
The Movie Mom (Nell Minow)
Fantastica Daily (Mervius)
Why is James Brolin in this movie? The Master of Disguise , and now this. Did he make a deal with the devil, and now it's pay-up time? ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Fantastica Daily (Mervius)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
If you ever admired Julia Stiles, Selma Blair and Jason Lee -- and who didn't? -- don't watch them crush their careers in this laugh-free romantic comedy. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Entertainment Weekly
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
If ever a romantic comedy is going to fail at the box office, this is it. The movie isn't a guy's thing, a girl's thing, or anybody else's thing. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Miami Herald (Connie Ogle)
There is humor in the familiar just waiting to be rehashed for new generations, and A Guy Thing surely isn't the last stupid leave-'em-at-the-altar film we're likely to see. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Miami Herald (Connie Ogle)
eFilmCritic.com (Greg Muskewitz)
Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)
The Onion (A.V. Club) (Keith Phipps)
Perhaps Lee took a look at the script -- saw all the jokes about diarrhea, pubic lice, drunk old ladies, and drugged gravy, and thought, "Why bother?" Looking at the final results, it's hard to feel any other way. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at The Onion (A.V. Club) (Keith Phipps)
The New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Most of the meager charms of the chaotic romantic farce A Guy Thing spring from the deft comic contortions of Hollywood's ultimate nerdy sidekick, Jason Lee. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at The New York Times (Stephen Holden)
New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Much of it plays like a confused, desperate rehash of [ Meet the Parents ]. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Boxoffice Magazine (Tim Cogshell)
It all sounds so funny -- well, no, it doesn't, and it isn't. Not remotely. Not ever. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Boxoffice Magazine (Tim Cogshell)
Showbizz.net (Nicolas Lacroix)
Une farce idiote qui ne vaut pas le déplacement, malgré la distribution. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Showbizz.net (Nicolas Lacroix)
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
I could be wrong about the ratio, but my guess is that about a quarter of the film is spent in bathrooms. Who funded this movie? American Standard? ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
Portland Oregonian (Kim Morgan)
Chris Koch exhibits little flair for comedic direction and, though this isn't saying much, you'd be better served watching his previous film, "Snow Day." Ouch. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Portland Oregonian (Kim Morgan)
MovieMaze (Thomas Straßer)
Dallas Morning News (Philip Wuntch)
A painful comedy of errors that wastes an agreeable cast. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Dallas Morning News (Philip Wuntch)
Washington Post (Ann Hornaday)
Tries desperately to lower the bar for scatological gags, rank sexual humor and cheap physical shots. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Washington Post (Ann Hornaday)
Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
For about 10 minutes, it works. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
Movie Poop Shoot (Michael Dequina)
I can't imagine this painfully unfunny and often boring movie being a 'thing' for guys or gals. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Movie Poop Shoot (Michael Dequina)
Talking Pictures (U.S.) (Tony Toscano)
...ends up tedious and redundant. ...read the complete Guy Thing movie review at Talking Pictures (U.S.) (Tony Toscano)
User Reviews
by B. White "note fi... on June 29, 2008
It's pretty funny for a movie of that style. I rented and downloaded the movie for 99c. Worth the buck. ...
by bernie "xyzzy" on February 04, 2008
Paul ...
by Charles G. Versch... on January 24, 2008
This is a well done romantic comedy about a chap who is going to marry a "safe' attractive girl approved by the fam but falls for a wilder one who is spontaneous, full of life and of course cannot hold a job. The problem is that she is a cousin of the ...
by Gayle R. Donham on February 11, 2007
A real good comedy all the way.Many ups and downs and surprise ending. ...
by Schway Master "To... on November 03, 2006
This is one of the funniest romantic comedies I have ever seen. It has heart, with quips about the actors and the situations that spiral out of ...
by J. Stanfield on September 16, 2005
This is one of those movies that critics hate, but anyone who knows of the genious of Jason Lee will know that anything he touches turns into hilarious gold, even if it's supposed to be a romantic comedy. This easily one of the funniest and most ...
First of all i want to point out something that is really disturbing me. You know that movie, My Boss's Daughter. Well go search for it here on amazon and look at the cover than come back to this page and look at the cover of A guy THing, notice anything ...
by Courtney Rabideau on December 19, 2004
This movie is very funny.
Paul and his girlfriend are getting married and Paul's friends throw him a bachelor party with hookers. Paul gets really drunk, and the next morning wakes up with one of the girls in his bed. He throws her out of his apartment ...
by Mr. JKW "jkw" on August 04, 2003
"A Guy Thing" successfully follows, with a few changes, your standard romantic comedy formula. THE STORY:Paul's engaged to be married and as is custom spends the night out with the boys for the Bachelor Party. He wakes up the next morning with the ...
by Throatwobbler Man... on July 02, 2003
I loved this film. I was laughing out loud watching it. The farce is all well acted and directed. It is a perfectly enjoyable ...
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