SummaryWhile out on parole, Dennis (Paul Giamatti) reluctantly takes a job selling Christmas trees with his old buddy Rene (Paul Rudd) in order to make enough money to buy his estranged daughter the piano she's always wanted.
Directed By:Phil Morrison
Written By:Melissa James Gibson
All Is Bright
Metascore
Mixed or Average
54
User score
Mixed or Average
5.5
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
54
33% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
47% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
20% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Oct 7, 2013
70
Although laughs do come... the film is happy to observe wryly as boredom and failure threaten to overwhelm the men.
User score
Mixed or Average
5.5
29% Positive
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
50% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
21% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
Oct 4, 2013
10
It's not a perfect movie, but the performances are truly first rate. Very funny and surprisingly touching. I appreciate that they actually shot New York for New York that's commitment. Definitely worth your time.
Dec 14, 2022
7
Not exactly filled with Xmas spirit and hardly a positive message to send, though 'All Is Bright' - or 'Almost Christmas', as it is known in my neck of the woods - is still somehow worth a watch I'd say. Paul Giamatti puts in a good performance, he is certainly the film's standout in my opinion. Paul Rudd is there alongside him, though, and is also a plus point. I also like Sally Hawkins in this, even though her questionable accent takes a little while to get used to. Elsewhere, it's neat seeing Colman Domingo involved - albeit in a minor role. It's an odd one, at least for the genre it is attached to. It's moreso a tale at Christmas, rather than a Christmas tale. One I did just narrowly enjoy.
Oct 2, 2013
58
Directed by Phil Morrison (Junebug) from a lackluster script by Melissa James Gibson, All Is Bright coasts entirely on the formidable talent of its cast, though Giamatti merely offers another variation on the irascible persona he’s been cultivating since Sideways, while Rudd is ultimately defeated by his character’s shapelessness.
Sep 6, 2013
50
Semi-flat with only a few jokes and emotional beats that land, the picture is often dull when it should be poignant.
Sep 6, 2013
50
There are tones of 1970s shaggy realism that are interrupted by moments of character-driven shtick. The wistful scenes aren’t rich enough to engross you and the comedy isn’t clever enough to make a difference.
Oct 4, 2013
38
Their misadventures in the Big Apple, including Giamatti’s involvement with a Russian house sitter (a bizarrely cast Sally Hawkins) are neither funny nor touching, just tedious.
Nov 3, 2018
6
With great acting performances, a ridiculous, but engaging story and colorful characters, All is Bright is a surprisingly sad movie. Even if it does have a lot of clichés and the story is predictable, it's still a very watchable dramedy.
Dec 6, 2014
6
Messed up characters trying to make ends meet. Their life's complications are twisted in such a way that it becomes a source for laughter with heartfelt moments.
Feb 27, 2015
2
i found some interesting little scenes in there....still even if there was a hilarious montage of them stealing things for a whole hour it would remain miserable....-JRA
Oct 4, 2013
1
This is two hours of time lost from your life. I like these actors but this is a pointless movie with no story and no end. Not sure what the point of the entire movie was, it was just angry banter and a few lame character interactions and not much else. I highly suggest passing on this project.
