Judy & Punch

Released Jun 5, 2020

1 hr. 45 min.

Comedy

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77%

141 Reviews

Tomatometer

59%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

A 16th-century puppeteer seeks revenge against her drunken and abusive husband after an unforgivable act of violence.

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Critics Consensus

Judy & Punch revisits classic characters from a fresh perspective, marking debuting writer-director Mirrah Foulkes as a filmmaking talent to watch.

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isla s

This is understandably a quite dark and grim film, in terms of the themes. While it may be categorised as a comedy film, this is not an out and out humorous film as such - its definitely very much dark comedy, just to make that clear. It's very much a re-telling of a folk tale. I liked the costumes and I'd say its definitely got a sinister feel to it. Sinister and somewhat atmospheric, I suppose. I thought that, certainly with the first scene depicting a puppet show, that it reminded me a little of the puppet scenes from 'Being John Malkovich' - mainly as its also a dark film, both in terms of the lighting and settings mostly being in the evening or night and in terms of the not very light thematic elements. I did feel that Damon Herriman gave a decent performance as Punch. He is fairly animated (in his gestures etc., rather than it being at all an animated film, of course) and has somewhat of a presence on screen, I'd say. I wasn't familiar with the actor previously, so that stood out to me somewhat. I can't say I thought a great deal of what could be described as a Gladiator-esque moment though. There are one or two pretty decently choreographed moments/scenes as well. Its more of a dark drama than its an out and out period drama, although it is clearly set very much in the past. It centres on working class England, rather than well off families living in castles on high, certainly. This film felt like it was missing something but i'm not sure I can put my finger on what exactly. I suppose it may be that I know the story roughly and knew it'd be dark and fairly depressing and maybe I wanted to hope there would be more in the way of complicated context given but that isn't really the case. Its not a badly made film, not an especially great one but I'd say its worth a watch, if the story of Punch & Judy is one that interests you, particularly in terms of the social historical aspect of it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Definitely NOT Comedy .... well Shot , It passed the time but Comedy it was not .. Entertaining enough though if you're bored.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Audience Member

Awesome soundtrack, Great Characters, Very Easy Plot to Follow, Feel Good Ending. Whats not to love? Makes you feel like your back in the 1800's, but also has timeless elements of the beloved US justice system.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

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Audience Member

Clever reframing of Punch and Judy. Not for kids, but then I never thought the original Punch and Judy was appropriate for kids. This one is puts feminism and otherness in a 16th century setting which is rather fun, even introducing Tai Chi in the middle ages. Great cast, especially the Judy character and the outcast women.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Chris D

Enjoyed the grim fairy-tale like feel and was quality enough to watch as part of a subscription. Would not necessarily rent.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/21

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Audience Member

What would have made one hell of a good 30 minute "Tales from the Crypt" episode gets stretched very thin in a 90 minute movie. Case in point, the third and fourth acts of the film could both have been cut as they are just a series of pointless montages that do more to confuse the timeline then advance the plot. The tone of horror and comedy never quit lands ...until the 5th act where it all comes together well. The music is hideous, it seems most of it was just placeholders that were just left in. The director also decide to set it in a fictional "time" more out of laziness then any plot reasons.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Mirrah Foulkes

Director

Mia Wasikowska

Judy

Damon Herriman

Punch

Benedict Hardie

Derrick

Tom Budge

Mr. Frankly

Virginia Gay

Ma

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Judy & Punch: Trailer 1

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Kristy Puchko

Pajiba

Rich with idiosyncratic style, macabre wit, riveting energy, and performances both playful and perturbing, Judy and Punch really packs a punch. I'm sorry, but it does.

Jun 10, 2020

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Mark Olsen

Los Angeles Times

The movie would like to see itself as a feminist allegory of abuse and systemic oppression, but it comes off as something far more scattered and unfocused.

Jun 6, 2020

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Barry Hertz

Globe and Mail

There's no puppet master here - just a pair of hands waving in the air, not quite sure what to do once we're paying attention.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 6, 2020

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Cris Kennedy

The Canberra Times (Australia)

The puppetry is gorgeous, as are the real-life performances.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 12, 2022

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Daisy Leigh-Phippard

Screen Queens

A feminist retelling, a dark comedy, and an adaptation of a puppet show, Judy & Punch takes the opportunity to give voice to the voiceless, like so many fairy tales do.

Feb 21, 2022

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Wasikowska, far better at giving speeches here than her appearances in Tim Burton's awful Alice in Wonderland movies, makes a stirring feminist hero.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 18, 2022

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Synopsis

A 16th-century puppeteer seeks revenge against her drunken and abusive husband after an unforgivable act of violence.

Director: Mirrah Foulkes
Executive Producer: Natalie Farrey, Vincent Landay, Eddy Moretti, Lucy Punch, Tom Punch, Jennifer Semler
Screenwriter: Mirrah Foulkes
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co: Seaside Productions, Soundfirm, Create NSW, Screen Australia, Pariah Productions, Film Victoria, Vice Media, Blue-Tongue Films, Samuel Goldwyn Films
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 5, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 4, 2020
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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