Paddleton

2019

1 hr. 29 min.

Comedy

Drama

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List

89%

46 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

An unlikely friendship between two misfit neighbors becomes an unexpected emotional journey when the younger man is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

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Critics Consensus

It takes its time coming together, but the quietly effective Paddleton pulls off a tricky tonal balancing act, thanks largely to the strengths of its well-chosen leads.

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Jeff M

This is an overly slow, overly quirky and overly low-key comedy drama that still manages to be somewhat effective by the end of the movie thanks in large part to two engaging performances by Duplass and Romano. Both play outcasts whose friendship with one another seems to be the extent of their social interactions. They watch kung fu movies, eat pizza and subtly fill the gaps in one another's lives. Their interaction, and the threat of its demise, is what makes the movie work moderately well. Supporting characters pop up every now and then, but none of them are fleshed out - although it is nice to see Hardison show up there (I don't think I've seen him since his DIFFERENT WORLD days). This is a two-man show, and Romano in particular gives a suprisingly good performance. He has really branched out from beyond his sitcom days and with movies like this and THE BIG SICK has proven himself a fine actor. This isn't one of those movies you'll remember next year or even next week, but you could do much, much worse (yes, I'm talking about you HE'S ALL THAT!)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

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Vasu d

Honest. Touching. Brilliant characters and acting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/24

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Aantler A

Even though it was rather dry and made something very serious turn into something comical, I think this movie is a must-see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/24

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Eric L

I watched this movie when it first came out 3-4 years ago. Didn't expect much, but I've probably thought about it more than any other movie since.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/16/23

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Jim S

I honestly didn't expect much. I was wrong. A deep and emotional journey. Very powerful!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/23

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Angela O

The leads were able to manipulate an incredibly somber subject and extract an unexpected degree of warmth and humor. The thought of holding the reaper hostage in a pink plastic vault is made plausible simply because we choose to agree with Romano that it is possible. So much love is shared, and death never stands a chance of robbing this duo or erasing the joy of lives lived simply in the pursuit of it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

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Alex Lehmann

Director

Mark Duplass

Michael

Ray Romano

Andy

Marguerite Moreau

Kiersten

Christine Woods

Doctor Hagen

Alexandra Billings

Judy

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Karen Han

Polygon

Whatever may feel annoying or disingenuous about Paddleton is trumped by the emotional honesty of its ending, and the remarkable tenderness of Romano's work.

Feb 25, 2019

Full Review

David Edelstein

New York Magazine/Vulture

To get a sense of how excruciating the first hour is, you need to imagine Dumb and Dumber played for tears instead of laughs.

Feb 22, 2019

Full Review

Kyle Turner

New York Times

Previous writing-directing work by Duplass with his brother, Jay ("Jeff Who Lives at Home"), could be quietly devastating. "Paddleton" is mostly just quiet.

Feb 22, 2019

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

The film’s early playfulness all but disappears in its final 20 minutes as “Paddleton” blindsided us with an emotionally earnest and deeply affecting ending.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 24, 2022

Full Review

José de Jesús Chávez Martínez

EscribiendoCine

Half-road movie and half-comedy that visually unfolds with a good dose of cinéma vérité... [Full review in Spanish]

May 25, 2022

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Natasha Alvar

MovieBabble

The thing is, you think you are ready for it, since the whole movie has been building up to this moment, but when it happens you find yourself untethered - at peace with Michael's decision yet shattered that this is where we end up.

Rated: B+

Mar 7, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

An unlikely friendship between two misfit neighbors becomes an unexpected emotional journey when the younger man is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Director: Alex Lehmann
Executive Producer: Ray Romano
Screenwriter: Mark Duplass, Alex Lehmann
Production Co: Duplass Brothers Productions
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 22, 2019

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