Ben Affleck’s latest thriller has struggled to impress critics, but it has fared slightly better than Justice League on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite bringing together a strong cast, Animals has drawn criticism for its storytelling, leaving the film short of the reception Affleck may have hoped for.
Ben Affleck’s Animals reviews are in
The performances were not the biggest problem for the movie. The Financial Times praised supporting actors Kerry Washington and Gillian Anderson for adding intrigue to a web of secrets and competing agendas. The Hollywood Reporter also described the cast as “highly watchable,” suggesting the actors offer something worthwhile even when the film struggles to make the most of them.
Other critics found the script difficult to defend. The Associated Press’ Jake Coyle described Animals as “narratively underpowered and melodramatically forced,” despite calling Affleck a “thoughtful” filmmaker capable of connecting human stories with larger social issues. The New York Times compared the thriller to an unappetizing dish made with an “high-value cast.”
The action and suspense also failed to impress. The Daily Telegraph‘s Tim Robey criticized the screenplay’s revenge motivations and called the behavior surrounding a hostage exchange particularly “sketchy.” The Wall Street Journal‘s John Anderson also questioned the plausibility of the action, arguing that interesting ethical questions could not rescue performances he considered uninspired.
The Guardian‘s Jesse Hassenger saw a movie too eager to remain likable, with little interest in examining its own central questions. The Daily Beast‘s Nick Schager also dismissed the thriller as an unoriginal story that lacked energy and suspense.
Animals’ Rotten Tomatoes score is disappointing
As of this writing, Rotten Tomatoes has Animals’ critics score at 48%. That puts the film above Justice League, which received 39% from critics, although the superhero movie earned a 66% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The comparison is a little comfort for Affleck, as the movie has drawn harsh criticism despite having a strong cast.
