The best movie of the summer by far. Wonderful. A whole lot better than all right—it’s terrific. The performances are outstanding. See as soon as you can.

★★★★. Movies like it don’t come along very often. Beautifully written, impeccably played, funny and randy and true. It’s even better when they pop up in the middle of the summer silly season like an unexpected breeze. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed Annette Bening as much as I have here. Writer/Director Lisa Cholodenko’s latest is this close to a masterpiece.

★★★★★.  Excellent. Fully realized filmmaking. Director Lisa Cholodenko’s work is rich and psychologically truthful.

★★★★.  My favorite American film of the year so far. A triumph.

★★★★ 1/2. Rewrites romantic comedy right under our noses. The performances are finely measured. When Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo share the screen the film becomes a master class of delivery, timing and reaction. It's a blast of cool air to find it in the middle of summer. Great films are great regardless of where they fall on the calendar

★★★★. A miracle. Boldy funny. A smart, cheerful, character-driven relationship comedy. An unabashed love letter to the idea of family. Director Lisa Cholodenko and co-writer Stuart Blumberg mold the story with sharp minds and skillful hands. They have created a gallery of living, thinking, feeling originals, observing all with amused affection. With performances that are emotionally true. The actors are excellent.

Highly entertaining. Everything about this film rings true. This gem features five topnotch, multidimensional performances in one of this summer's most engaging films. Annette Bening gives an Oscar-caliber performance. Julianne Moore is excellent. Mark Ruffalo shows his depth in a pitch-perfect performance.

Grade A. Funny, smart, and sexy. Irresistible. This pitch perfect movie charms audiences into a state of enlightenment. Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo at the top of their games.  

Funny, smart and overflowing with love. Thoroughly entertaining. Between peerless performances, lyrical direction and an adventurous script, this is the sort of pleasingly grown-up fare all too rare.

Outrageously funny. The best comedy about an American family since ...Since what? Precedents and grounds for comparison seem to be lacking, so I may have to let the superlative stand unqualified for now. So canny in its insights and so agile in its negotiation of complex emotions that it deserves to stand on its own. The performances are all close to perfect.