The whole narrative is too hollow and rickety as well as gimmicky for Muccino to breathe much life into it.
Comment
12/19/08
Seven Pounds (2008)
27
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:172
Fresh:47
Rotten:125
Average Rating:4.6/10
Consensus: Grim and morose, Seven Pounds is also undone by an illogical plot.
Australian Rating: TBC
Genre: Dramas
Australian Theatrical Release:
Jan 8, 2009 Wide
US Box Office: $69,951,824
Synopsis: Academy Award® nominee Will Smith reunites with the directors and producers of The Pursuit of Happyness for the emotional drama Seven Pounds. In the film, Smith plays Ben Thomas, an IRS agent with... [More]
Starring: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Barry Pepper
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Reviews for Seven Pounds
121 - 140 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
For all its ambitions, however, Seven Pounds ultimately fails in the one arena where it should be a cinematic slam dunk - the production of tears.
12/19/08
An unconvincing drama masquerading as a spiritual tale of redemption and sacrificial love.
12/19/08
I wanted to be left bawling like a little baby, this story has that potential. But when Ben gets distracted with Emily, so does the entire film. We almost forget Ben is on a focused (albeit depressed) journey.
12/19/08
"Seven Pounds" is like one of those little kids' puzzles with six or seven big pieces that once you fit a couple together, the others easily fall into place.
12/19/08
Put your faith in Will Smith and by his sacrifice ye will be reborn.
12/19/08
Seven Pounds has a heart as big as all outdoors. Unfortunately it's made out of high-fructose bull
12/19/08
...a dumb movie put together by people who think they're a lot smarter than their prospective audience.
12/19/08
Parental Content Review
12/19/08
Inspirational misfire about a guy seeking redemption by helping complete strangers has Will Smith in his grimmest role and his sloppiest movie. Whether his name can help this confusing film will be a big test of his star power.
12/19/08
[A] dour, morally beclouded film that confuses generosity and grief, self-abnegation and self-annihilation.
12/19/08
When this lump of coal isn't being schmaltzy and falsely mysterious, it's being harsh.
12/19/08
The most spiritual movie of the year.
12/18/08
The day I stop being emotionally affected by films or become so cynical that I find displays of emotion something to sneer at, is the day I stop doing this job.
12/18/08
As holiday heartwarmers go, Seven Pounds is so unintentionally ghoulish, it makes Black Christmas look like It's a Wonderful Life.
12/18/08
Accompanied by one of the worst scores I've heard in some time, Seven Pounds follows its lead by continually trying to bury its final note under another one and constantly sounding like the composer missing the beat over and over and over again.
12/18/08
Seven Pounds is among the dumbest prestige films to vie for an award in this season of half-baked Oscar contenders. It's a waste of talent, a waste of two earnest performances, and a waste of forty good gallons of water.
12/18/08
A ludicrous testament to the human condition that never demonstrates a sense of an authentic human touch for a single second.
12/18/08
A movie so bizarre the studio is unwilling--or afraid-- to even tell you what it's about.
12/18/08
After watching an enthralling, emotional movie, I was left wondering why it has to come to this conclusion.
12/18/08
Latest News for Seven Pounds
January 16, 2009:
UK Critics Consensus: The Wrestler Pile-drives The Critics, But Don’t Waste any £s on Seven Pounds
With critical success for Slumdog Millionaire last week (94%), we have more award-friendly fare in the UK cinemas this Friday in Darren Aronofsky's spandex-tastic The Wrestler.... More...
December 28, 2008:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Marley Takes #1, The Spirit Tanks
This weekend people were in the mood for movies over Christmas weekend as multiplexes were jam-packed with customers that powered four different new releases to more than $30M... More...
December 22, 2008:
Will Smith as widower wracked with guilt. 
More...
December 21, 2008:
Smith, in his typical impressive pressure cooker character fashion, is a nervous wreck suicidal IRS agent who raises pet jellyfish, and seems to enjoy harassing when not stalking his clients. Paging Dr. Kevorkian.
More...
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