Underrated Gems: Movies Critics Got Completely Wrong
by Casey RackhamBuzzFeedBuzzFeed ContributorWhat are the chances of Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford ever doing a live read of the "Studio 60" pilot in my kitchen while I eat dinner?
Recently, Reddit user MagicianIntrepid posed a question: "What movies are rated low on IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes but are actually really good?"
"I know this is a subjective question, but I'd like to know which movies you think have an unjustifiably low score/rating on these critic sites. Are there any films that you think are way better than their ratings online? Or even a film that commonly gets a lot of stick but is actually worth watching? Any examples would be appreciated, as I find I will automatically dismiss a film based on a rating rather than actually watching it and making up my own mind, in fear of wasting time watching it."
Of course, the members of the r/movies subreddit immediately had some of their best answers at the ready. Here's a look at some of the most poorly reviewed movies that are actually good!
1.
Hook (1991) — Critics' Score: 37%
TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
Logline: "When his young children are abducted by his old nemesis, Capt. Hook (Dustin Hoffman), middle-aged lawyer Peter Banning (Robin Williams) returns to his magical origins as Peter Pan. Peter must revisit a foggy past in which he abandoned Neverland for family life, leaving Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts) and the Lost Boys to fend for themselves. Given their bitterness toward Peter for growing up -- and their allegiance to their new leader, Rufio -- the old gang may not be happy to see him."
"Hook is in the mid-30s on Rotten Tomatoes, which is pure blasphemy."
—pcpelste
2.
Grandma's Boy (2006) — Critics' Score: 15%
20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
Logline: "When he and his roommate can't pay their rent, video game creator Alex finds himself homeless and moves in with Lilly, his wacky grandmother. Lilly and her elderly pals like to hang out in front of the television all day, but their constant presence puts a damper on Alex's social life and pot smoking. Alex wants to court co-worker Samantha, but he's preoccupied by a rivalry with another game designer, so the would-be relationship is in limbo."
"I say this every time, but it bears repeating: Grandma’s Boy. 15% RT score for a perfect comedy."
—obamaswaffle
3.
Jennifer's Body (2009) — Critics' Score: 47%
20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
Logline: "A beautiful cheerleader (Megan Fox) gains an insatiable appetite for human flesh after a hungry demon takes control of her body."
"It’s one of my favourite comedies of all time."
—_wtfareperfectplaces
"Honestly, I think a lot of critics completely missed the point of that movie. They made a lot of assumptions based on Megan Fox’s casting and took it at face value. Which is sad, because she understood the assignment and played her part perfectly. It’s a smart, funny, ironic horror movie pretending to be a teen sex horror comedy."
—Bank_Gothic
4.
Man On Fire (2004) — Critics' Score: 39%
20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
Logline: "In a Mexico City wracked by a recent wave of kidnappings, ex-CIA operative John Creasy (Denzel Washington) reluctantly accepts a job as a bodyguard for 9-year-old Lupita (Dakota Fanning), the daughter of wealthy businessman Samuel Ramos (Marc Anthony). Just as Creasy begins to develop a fondness for the young girl, a bloodthirsty gunman (Jesús Ochoa) kidnaps her. Now, Creasy must pick off a succession of corrupt cops and criminals to reach his ultimate object of vengeance."
"I like Man on Fire quite a bit. It's not a masterpiece, but it was much darker than most of those movies of the time. And it has Denzel!"
—brobastian0227
5.
Angels in the Outfield (1994) — Critics' Score: 31%
Disney / Everett Collection
Logline: "Foster kid Roger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) loves the Anaheim Angels, even though they're the worst team in the major leagues. His estranged dad promises to reunite the family if the Angels make it to the World Series, so Roger decides to ask for some divine help and prays that his favorite team will turn things around. Soon, a real angel named Al (Christopher Lloyd) shows up in response to Roger's prayers, and Anaheim's hopeless coach (Danny Glover) is shocked to see his team on a winning streak."
"Angels in the Outfield is one of my favorite movies. There’s definitely some nostalgia painting that I love, but I’d say at worst it's a solid movie."
—wolfbagel
6.
Saving Silverman (2001) — Critics' Score: 18%
Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
Logline: "The film traces the misadventures of buddies J.D. (Jack Black) and Wayne (Steve Zahn), who begin to suspect that their best friend, Darren Silverman (Jason Biggs), is going to allow himself to be badgered into marrying Judith (Amanda Peet), a woman he doesn't love. They decide to reunite him with his long-lost love from their school days (Amanda Detmer) -- even if they have to kidnap Judith to