Human Nature

R

Released Apr 12, 2002

1 hr. 36 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

48%

95 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Critics Consensus

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

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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

Audience Member

Human Nature is a film I won't forget, albeit squandered by its low budget and, surprisingly, (apart from its smart concept,) its lack of creativity.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

A clever satire as biting as a team-up from legends Charlie Kaufman and Michael Gondry sounds, but with SLIGHTLY dissapointing results. It's a very unpleasant sort of plot to watch unfold with manimals making up the ugly cast running around naked, but with these two legends at the helm it's of course original as Hell. It's about our primal instincts, how we're all wired differently, and each secretly motivated by our own ambituons looking out for ourselves, whether for sex or companionship to slip out of lonliness. Technically both writer and director's worst film, but if most would KILL for this kind of positive reception from fans for their film. I want some of that. 7.5/10.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

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Michel Gondry

Director

Tim Robbins

Nathan Bronfman

Patricia Arquette

Lila Jute

Rhys Ifans

Puff

Miranda Otto

Gabrielle

Robert Forster

Nathan's Father

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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

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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
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
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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