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Human Nature

R Released Apr 12, 2002 1h 36m Comedy Drama List
48% Tomatometer 95 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A philosophical burlesque, "Human Nature" follows the ups and downs of an obsessive scientist, a female naturalist, and the man they discover, born and raised in the wild. As scientist Nathan (Tim Robbins) trains the wild man (Rhys Ifans) in the ways of the world - starting with table manners - Nathan's lover Lila (Patricia Arquette) fights to preserve the man's simian past, which represents a freedom enviable to most.
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Human Nature

Human Nature

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Critics Consensus

As quirky as Being John Malkovich but not as funny, Human Nature feels too forced and unengaging.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Rated: 1/4 Oct 15, 2009 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 2/5 Aug 1, 2003 Full Review Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune Tries for both civilized wit and primitive joy -- and mostly misses both. Rated: 2/4 Jul 20, 2002 Full Review Brian Orndorf Blu-ray.com Gondry works ridiculously hard to transform his helming debut into a cinematic playground of tricks and fantasy, which doesn't always mesh with Kaufman's self-conscious probing of damaged people. Rated: C Jul 11, 2021 Full Review Kathi Maio The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction I appreciate the fact that Human Nature tackles more subject matter than it can coherently explore in one movie. Ambition is good. Feb 27, 2020 Full Review Jeffrey Chen Window to the Movies [Kaufman and Gondry] dive right into the subject [of sex] to lay bare the pain of it, and to have us laugh at it. Rated: 9/10 Sep 8, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Munkhchimeg T Good artistic movie. Giving many deep senses. Very good Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Bahad j I really liked the characters and actions of the actors Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Lucy M Judging by the horribly unfair and simply shallow "critic" reviews for this movie, some people need to rethink their expectations of cinema as an art form. Human Nature is utterly fantastic. I've watched it last many years ago, but it has left a permanent and welcome mark on the way I see the world. It might not be as flashy as something like "Poor Things", but I feel a lot of the same themes are present, and actually better developed in "Human Nature" than the recent Oscar winner. It's a definite worth-while watch, and it's as good (possibly better) as any other Charlie Kaufmann work. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/24 Full Review Audience Member It's quirky, wrestles with interesting ideas, but for some reason isn't quite as engaging as it needs to be. It's like it can't figure the right balance of tones; whether it wants to slapstick humour, or a biting satire, it can't seem to figure out its direction. But points to Gondry (as usual) for his stylized and imaginative direction. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/29/22 Full Review Audience Member I think this blurb is right on, so I'm not even going to bother trying to paraphrase it: "As quirky as Being John Malkovich but not as funny, Human Nature feels too forced and unengaging." Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Amusingly clever satire that lightly plays with some more serious themes. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Human Nature

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis A philosophical burlesque, "Human Nature" follows the ups and downs of an obsessive scientist, a female naturalist, and the man they discover, born and raised in the wild. As scientist Nathan (Tim Robbins) trains the wild man (Rhys Ifans) in the ways of the world - starting with table manners - Nathan's lover Lila (Patricia Arquette) fights to preserve the man's simian past, which represents a freedom enviable to most.
Director
Michel Gondry
Producer
Anthony Bregman, Ted Hope, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman
Screenwriter
Charlie Kaufman
Distributor
Fine Line Features
Production Co
Studio Canal, Good Machine, Partizan, Beverly Detroit
Rating
R (Nudity|Language|Sexuality)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 12, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 1, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA)
$695.9K
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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