39 Pounds of Love

Released Apr 9, 2005

1h 10m

Documentary

List

62%

Tomatometer

34 Reviews

68%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

Ami, a young man with muscular dystrophy given only six years to live and weighing a mere 39 pounds, perseveres despite being immobile except for one finger. At 34 and now a 3-D animator, he takes a cross-country journey of a lifetime to find the doctor responsible for a grim diagnosis decades earlier.

Read More

Read Less

Critics Consensus

39 Pounds of Love is a heart-tugger that often crosses the line between uplifting and sappy.

Read Critics Reviews

Michael Booth

Denver Post

It's not quite on the level of Enron, or even other disability-themed nominees such as Murderball. But with a subject like Ami Ankilewitz, nitpicking seems out of the question.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 24, 2006

Full Review

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

So inherently poignant, a conservative approach would have been wise.

Jan 12, 2006

Full Review

Ty Burr

Boston Globe

Stirring, sobering, and manipulative enough to be slightly suspect.

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 10, 2005

Full Review

David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

39 Pounds is one of those rare inspirational films that doesn't shrink from the awful truths, not only about Ami's life but life in general.

May 7, 2020

Full Review

Eric Monder

Film Journal International

If one ignores the excesses, 39 Pounds of Love becomes a road trip worth taking.

Mar 1, 2007

Full Review

Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone

TheMovieChicks.com

This leaves you wanting to know more about Ami, and at the same time feeling a bit cheated that they didn't give you enough.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 14, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Can bring a tear to a glass eye.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very good documentary. Ami is an inspiration!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's really hard to feel bad for the guy. His animation sucks and he's a total dickhead. The "ending" seemed very forced. I doubt that doctor even cared. Fuck that, i KNOW that doctor didn't care... no one did. F-

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Extremely boring. Do not bother watching, absolute waste of time.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very touching, very inspirational. Best of all, it's real, baby.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Love it or hate it, you'll never forget it. It is a decision that you really need to make for yourself... See it prepared to laugh and don't forget the kleenex... :fresh:

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Dani Menkin

Director

Dani Menkin

Writer

Dani Menkin

Producer

Chris Gubisch

Original Music

Yoav Kleinman

Cinematographer

Geof Bartz

Film Editing

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

69%

61%

Reel Paradise

95%

86%

The Nomi Song

88%

78%

The Real Dirt on Farmer John

100%

83%

Indestructible

84%

85%

Rize

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Ohio Film Critics Offer Up Their Year-End Picks

"Penguins," "Murderball," and 13 Other Docs Vie for Oscar Eligibility

View more photos

Synopsis

Ami, a young man with muscular dystrophy given only six years to live and weighing a mere 39 pounds, perseveres despite being immobile except for one finger. At 34 and now a 3-D animator, he takes a cross-country journey of a lifetime to find the doctor responsible for a grim diagnosis decades earlier.

Director: Dani Menkin
Screenwriter: Dani Menkin
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 9, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $28.1K
Runtime: 1h 10m