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About Alex

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About Alex

R

Released Aug 8, 2014

1h 38m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

46%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Overindulgences in food, drugs and wine threaten to bring old resentments and clashing viewpoints to the breaking point during a weekend reunion of longtime friends.

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Critics Consensus

About Alex pointedly provokes comparisons to The Big Chill, but the script doesn't have enough substance to support them -- or give its talented cast enough to work with.

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Justin Chang

Variety

Neither the script's up-to-the-minute signifiers nor its cheekily self-aware humor can entirely dispel a formulaic feel.

Aug 10, 2014

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Rex Reed

Observer

The intelligence and unhackneyed humor of the believable, unself-conscious screenplay by fledgling director Mr. Zwick (son of veteran director Edward Zwick) deserves special praise. It never hits a false note.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 8, 2014

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Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

I was pleasantly surprised by much of "About Alex," a film that features a stronger-than-average ensemble for this subgenre even if it too often succumbs to predictable, traditional turns of Screenwriting 101.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 8, 2014

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

As good as the performances are, by the end of the film the story descends into melodrama which underscores the overall unoriginality of the script.

Rated: 2.5/5

Feb 1, 2021

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Leo Brady

AMovieGuy.com

About Alex is a film in a genre that has been done before, but shows promise from all parties involved.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 31, 2021

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

Though it may be reminiscent of too many greater or similar films, About Alex at least does what it does well, and there's enough passion in the proceedings to reel you in to the final frames.

Rated: 2.5/5

Aug 30, 2019

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Alec B

A total dud of an attempted millennial version of "The Big Chill". Amusingly the movie completely misses the completely obvious fact that none of these characters should continue to be friends.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/13/23

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Audience Member

A group of friends gather together when one of them attempts suicide and old feelings and current problems rise to the surface as they try to navigate the uncomfortable realities of adulthood. Jason Ritter, Maggie Grace, Aubrey Plaza, Nate Parker and others star. Very well acted film touching on a bummer of a subject.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

Say what you will but this is one of the most interesting performances I have seen from Aubrey Plaza. Something about this movie made me rewatch it again and again. No it's not perfect. Yes I did really like it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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the s

If you ever wondered what The Big Chill would have been like if they used a budget cast of amateur actors, took away the charm and wit, took away the incredible soundtrack, you can find out wlby watching this poorly done knock-off. Even the suicidal character's name is the same (Alex) but he survives. The characters are whiny, annoying and cliche while Kasdan's Big Chill characters had some depth and some substance at least. Good luck making it all the way through. Watch the Big Chill instead.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Over time this movie will fade from my memory but I will always remember josh being one of the worst friends and worst characters in recent memory . How anyone even in a fictional movie could be friends with that guy is beyond me 2.9

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/26/20

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Audience Member

I actually liked it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

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Jesse Zwick

Director

Aubrey Plaza

Sarah

Jane Levy

Kate

Jason Ritter

Alex

Maggie Grace

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Synopsis

Overindulgences in food, drugs and wine threaten to bring old resentments and clashing viewpoints to the breaking point during a weekend reunion of longtime friends.

Director: Jesse Zwick
Producer: Robyn K. Bennett, Adam Saunders
Screenwriter: Jesse Zwick
Distributor: Screen Media Films
Production Co: Footprint Features
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 8, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 1, 2015
Runtime: 1h 38m

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