Updated
Updated · MovieWeb · Aug 25
Critics Split on Ridley Scott's 119-Minute The Dog Stars Ahead of Aug. 28 Release
Updated
Updated · MovieWeb · Aug 25

Critics Split on Ridley Scott's 119-Minute The Dog Stars Ahead of Aug. 28 Release

3 articles · Updated · MovieWeb · Aug 25

Summary

  • Early press reactions to The Dog Stars have hardened into a clear split, with critics praising its intimate human drama while faulting its slow pacing and overlong 119-minute runtime.
  • Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin drew some of the strongest notices, as supporters said their chemistry grounds the post-apocalyptic story and helps Scott balance community, survival and bursts of violence.
  • Negative reviews centered on the screenplay, with several critics arguing Scott's direction and action staging could not overcome what they called a heavy-handed, generic or undercooked script.
  • The film, adapted from Peter Heller's 2012 novel, premiered in London on Aug. 20 and reaches theaters on Aug. 28, setting up one of the year's more debated sci-fi releases.

Insights

Can stellar performances by Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin rescue this post-apocalyptic survival tale from feeling entirely too familiar?
Why is an 88-year-old cinematic legend struggling to deliver a compelling narrative despite creating yet another visually breathtaking world?