32
Metascore
9 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 60VarietyGeoff BerkshireVarietyGeoff BerkshireBrightest Star, has all the trappings of a contemporary romantic comedy, but also the good sense to strive for a deeper examination of a young man’s search for his place in the universe.
- 50The A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloThe A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloSo terminally bland is Brightest Star’s protagonist (played by Chris Lowell) that screenwriters Maggie Kiley (who also directed) and Matthew Mullen couldn’t be tasked to provide him with a name — the closing credits refer to him simply as The Boy.
- 40Village VoiceSherilyn ConnellyVillage VoiceSherilyn ConnellyIt's either much smarter and more profound than it's letting on, or it doesn't add up to anything at all. Or maybe both — it's all relative.
- 40The DissolveAndrew LapinThe DissolveAndrew LapinThe chief problem is that no matter what the nameless dude is up to, it hardly seems to matter.
- 38RogerEbert.comRogerEbert.comLack of specificity in the writing aside, the opening of Brightest Star — which had its title changed, to no avail, from "Light Years" — tells the viewer loud and clear that this trek is not going to lead anyplace new.
- 30Los Angeles TimesRobert AbeleLos Angeles TimesRobert AbeleBeware any movie that talks about what it is before being what it is.
- 30The New York TimesNeil GenzlingerThe New York TimesNeil GenzlingerAllegories involving astronomy, baseball and sandwiches are hinted at but are no better developed than the characters.
- 30The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckBrightest Star is too dim to sustain interest even with its very brief running time.
- 20New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierNew York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierFar from burning bright, this earnest indie starts out dull and gets duller.