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SummaryDaniel Handler's popular children's book series about the misadventures of the Baudelaire orphans comes to the big screen.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Metascore
Generally Favorable
62
User score
Generally Favorable
7.0
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
62
65% Positive
24 Reviews
32% Mixed
12 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
Chicago Tribune
Exceptionally clever, hilariously gloomy and bitingly subversive.
75
San Francisco Chronicle
Much credit for this delightfully morose children's film must go to director Brad Silberling's careful orchestration. Please note, in the vocabulary-building spirit of the Snicket books, that the word "orchestration'' here means "coaxing good performances out of child actors and keeping Jim Carrey in check.''
User score
Generally Favorable
7.0
64% Positive
132 Ratings
29% Mixed
60 Ratings
6% Negative
13 Ratings
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Nov 20, 2021
10
DawdlingPoet
This is a very quirky and vivid comedy/fantasy film. The adult characters are quite exaggerated, in terms of their facial expressions, their demeanour, body language and so on. It is quite creepy in nature, so although it only carries a PG rating, it may seem slightly scary for especially young viewers. The plot is quite creepy for one thing, with the children continually running in to the ****, villainous uncle Olaf, them continually warning people to be wary of his identity but not listened to and so on. There is mention of a suicide note and many scenes are in (lighting wise) quite dark or stormy surroundings, so, while this is marketed as a family film and doesn't feature any explicit language or graphic violence, I would certainly exercise caution before showing it to younger children. I felt it was quite an immersive film, in as much as the cinematography was very impressive and the mix of the visual effects (with depictions of dingy, cold, creepy caves and large, domineering and old houses) and the instrumental musical score/soundtrack really added to the atmosphere. I felt it was perhaps a bit like a childs fairy tale only perhaps a bit more dark and (obviously) having been brought to life on TV/DVD. There is an element of poignancy to it - particularly in the ending. I should add that there is a narrator present, although his dialogue is sparse and only heard a few times but yet he is crucial, in that he introduces the viewer to the characters (the children) explaining the background to the plot and so on. The narrator appears on screen but only ever as a shadow or silhouette, so we can't put a face to him. I suppose you could say thats a theme throughout, identifying who people really are, who are the ones that (attempt to) shape their future and the consequences of such. Cast wise, the villain (uncle Olaf) is played by Jim Carrey, giving one of his usual rubbery-faced style comic performances as an evil selfish plot-doer - think along the lines of The Grinch, in which he also played the lead role. Also present is Timothy Spall, who plays the more caring Mr. Poe, while Billy Connolly plays Uncle Monty. I feel like Connolly and Carrey would (potentially) make a good double act but thats just a random thought. Meryl Streep plays one of the childrens guardians, aunt Josephine, who has a peculiar set of fears - seeming quite regal and intellectual, while also clearly troubled. I won't spoil the ending by saying what happens but I did feel that one or two quite nice points were made via the narrator towards the end. I wouldn't say its by any means sickly sweet - infact at the very start of the film, the narrator warns that this is no 'happy little elf' cartoon film, so count yourself warned. However, content wise, as mentioned earlier, there is no graphic violence or other explicit content, so while its quite spooky and perhaps unsettling, it doesn't have a minimum age rating (being rated PG). Yes I'd recommend this film, as I found it to be quite immersive, with good, slightly creepy cinemtaography, some poignancy, interesting characters and a curious plot. Its perhaps not entirely original but its certainly an entertaining watch and one that is suitable for most of the family.
Aug 30, 2020
10
emre3294
hala çok iyi. atmosfer ortam, her şeyin kullanılması, basit ama etkili aletler, aktörler aktrisler her şey. dizisinden daha iyi zira dizisinde akıl oyunları bir kenara atılıyor bir noktadan sonra.
70
Village Voice
In time, Carrey's monkeyshines, Jude Law's silhouetted reappearances as Snicket, and the inevitable descent of Beverly Hills pathos blunt the movie's fastidious dark-carnival humor.
63
New York Post
A lavishly mounted blockbuster that has little personality of its own except on a purely visual level.
60
Salon
As it ticks by, laboriously, it leaves you feeling that you should be enjoying it more than you are.
58
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
I walked out of it feeling much the same way I did after "The Cat in the Hat" and "The Polar Express" -- jarred by its excess, undernourished by its lack of heart and bored by its lack of originality.
25
Christian Science Monitor
I hate to sound per-Snickety, but this lemon of a movie is a sadly unfortunate event.
See All 37 Critic Reviews
Jul 7, 2011
10
Savvy
Wonderful adaption of a children's book series: perhaps not as edgy or dark as the original material but still the same tone. The art direction is fantastic (the shadow-puppet chase during the end credits is a masterpiece.) Jim Carey is used to his best abilities--he acts the part of a bad actor but he is NOT allowed to go over the top or chew the scenery (as often happens when he is unleashed in kiddie films.) They child actors are truly wonderful: droll, thoughtful, serious but engaged. The direction is spot on: tone, performances and dark beauty are consistent throughout. One of my favorite SMART and ARTISTIC and FUNNY movies for children. Skip the other mind-numbing drivel that passes as entertainment for children -- and watch this marvelous offering.
Jan 20, 2026
6
famfacat
The whimsical machinery **** descent: A 3.0-star "stagnant" drift through gothic artifice.2011 (3.0)I watched "Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events" in 2011, and it remains a functional 3.0-star record that captures a "vivid" visual aesthetic without reaching a "sensational" narrative peak. This 2004 production provided a visceral "revelation" of Jim Carrey’s transformative ability, **** the fourth wall of typical children’s stories with its "raw" and morbid humor. However, despite the high-tension atmosphere of the orphans’ plight, the narrative rhythm felt somewhat "stagnant" and episodic, lacking the "chewy" emotional depth found in my 5.0-star pillars. The 95% preservation of my memory is dominated by the "vivid" production design and the "pathetic" yet persistent villainy of Count Olaf, creating an immersive journey through a world of shadows. Unlike the "1.0-star traumas" of my 2011 record, this film offered a sense of "silent satisfaction" through its unique style, yet the rhythmic payoff felt oddly distant—more of an intellectual encounter with set design than a 100% immersive emotional experience. It stands in my archive as a "vivid" and stylish artifact of gothic fantasy, a "sensational" showcase of visual imagination that ultimately struggled to leave a permanent, "raw" scar on my soul. It was a high-tension encounter with the bizarre that resonated with my appreciation for the unusual, but remained a 3.0-star entry due to its rhythmic repetition and "stagnant" emotional core.
Apr 11, 2019
6
Tyranian
Carrey is excellent but whenever he's away it drags. Some good visuals and decently written.
Oct 13, 2016
2
WitchyWooWoo
A disappointment of a movie. Squishing in 3 books into a short run time never bodes well. Looking forward to the new netflix series which can give the amount of detail and love this series deserves to have.
May 6, 2019
1
Whizzy_Elephant
This is one of my most hated movies. It struggles immensely to justify any of its comedy. It's frightening to see Jim Carrey attempt dark humour, and the plot is incredibly boring and monotone. The thick depressing notions keep pushing and pushing against its fake child themes and target audience leaving you confused and upset.
See All 205 User Reviews
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  • Paramount Pictures
  • DreamWorks Pictures
  • Nickelodeon Movies
  • Kumar Mobiliengesellschaft mbH & Co. Projekt Nr. 2 KG
  • Parkes/MacDonald Image Nation
  • Scott Rudin Productions
Dec 17, 2004
1 h 48 m
PG
On December 17, Christmas cheer takes a holiday.
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 4 Nominations
Online Film & Television Association
• 2 Wins & 4 Nominations
Young Artist Awards
• 4 Nominations
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