The Magic of Belle Isle

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The Magic of Belle Isle

PG

2012

1h 49m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

31%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

An alcoholic, disabled novelist finds his muse again after he moves into a lakeside cabin and meets a single mother and her daughters.

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Critics Consensus

Neither Rob Reiner nor Morgan Freeman are able to conjure up their old magic in this dull trifle, with both director and star appearing content to tread through the paces of the saccharine script.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

02/15/2020

Hopeless drivel.

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Serena Donadoni

IndieWire

11/01/2012

B

There's a comforting inevitability to The Magic of Belle Isle, as an alcoholic author spends a soothing, rejuvenating summer in a sleepy lakeside village.

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

07/12/2012

1/4

If this were real life and not a movie, Mr. Wildhorn would be written off as a crank and ostracized within a week.

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Clayton Davis

AwardsCircuit.com

09/16/2014

2/4

All we're left with is an uneven story that could have landed on "Best of Straight-to-DVD" shelves or the $1 bin at your local Walmart for Grandma to find.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

12/12/2012

C

Uninspiring sentimental inspirational pic.

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Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

11/27/2012

B

The problems with the dialog and story are overcome by the fact that this is a very nice, warm, romantic story with some magic in it.

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Jennifer M.

@JmcArtist 8h

I enjoyed it! Loved how it snuck up on me. A sweet tale.

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Martin B

Feb 24

No idea how any professional critic could rate this feel good, subtle movie with some outstanding bits and veteran cast so poorly. The writing of Morgan Freeman's character alone, not to mention hearing him deliver the lines is worth three stars alone.

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Joel H

Feb 18

The true magic of The Magic of Belle Isle is that you’d never know it was directed by Rob Reiner. This feels like a low-budget, locally made rom-com instead of something created by the man who gave us The Princess Bride, Misery, and Stand by Me. The writing of the characters is also inconsistent. Is Monte a curmudgeon, or isn’t he? And before Finn even meets Monte, she makes up a fantastic story about who he is, but then we’re supposed to believe she doesn’t know what an imagination is. Aside from a few witty lines from Morgan Freeman, The Magic of Belle Isle is a failed attempt at manufactured charm.

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Chris P

Feb 8

Great movie, well worth the watch. Inspiring to the end.

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Dwight R

@4hybrid Feb 7

Nothing like a feel good story these days; Miss Fuhrmann is an obvious charmer in the role of Finnegan; Virginia Madsen is an underated actress and should have been a bigger star than she is. Mr. Freeman and that voice captures you in every movie and scene he chooses to be in

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Douglas G

@Moviefandrg Feb 2

Worth a watch for the director and the leading actor. Hallmark-type movie, sure, but sometimes we need a good story, well done. I hate that the critics were so harsh on a film meant to be a feel-good movie (maybe a trope) and to give a pleasing story.

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Rob Reiner

Director

Morgan Freeman

Monte Wildhorn

Virginia Madsen

Mrs. O'Neil

Madeline Carroll

Willow

Emma Fuhrmann

Finnegan

Nicolette Pierini

Flora

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Synopsis

An alcoholic, disabled novelist finds his muse again after he moves into a lakeside cabin and meets a single mother and her daughters.

Director: Rob Reiner
Producer: Rob Reiner, Alan Greisman, Lori McCreary, Salli Newman, David Valdes
Screenwriter: Guy Thomas
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Magnolia Pictures, Voltage Pictures, Castle Rock Entertainment
Rating: PG (Mild Thematic Elements|Language|Some Suggestive Comments)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 6, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 26, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $100.9K
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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