Critic Reviews

I'm a sucker for so-called "mockumentaries." They're charming, usually outlandish, and you never have to worry if anyone is getting exploited. NBT is no exception.

Wickedly funny and subversive.

It has moments of Guest-like faux earnestness that instantly mark it as one of the smartest and most insightful comedies of the year. But imitation only takes you so far, and by the film's sagging final 30 minutes, it's evident "NBT" isn't quite up to the master's standards.

Propelled by astute, straight-faced performances, it succeeds in stirring up some maniacal laughs.

Displays moments of cleverness but not enough to sustain its feature-length running time.

Has no stylistic flair and little forward momentum, yet nearly every scene contains an amusing bit of business, much of it off to the side of the main action.

Mocks without achieving the level of good satire.

The hit-or-miss nature of the gags makes NBT too uneven to recommend, but it's a great calling-card movie for guys who want to become professional comedy writers.

Passably offbeat.

What's most surprising about Never Been Thawed is that it's not completely awful. It's just a little awful.