Despite how easy it would be to write off Righteous Kill as one sorry excuse for lazy filmmaking, there is still something utterly mesmerizing in the palpable chemistry between the two leading men.
50
The Hollywood ReporterLuke Sader
The Hollywood ReporterLuke Sader
An ordinary cop picture boosted by two charismatic superstars but hindered by its dearth of surprises.
50
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
A twisty, turny and ultimately silly thriller from "Inside Man's" Russell Gewirtz.
50
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Hartlaub
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Hartlaub
A relatively harmless movie that becomes killing-a-mockingbird sinful for what it does to its leads.
Trudging through a thriller that would have felt warmed over in 1988, the pair investigate a serial killer.
40
VarietyJustin Chang
VarietyJustin Chang
Unable or unwilling to match the visceral chops and moral provocations of superior serial-killer chillers, Righteous Kill is content to be a twisty genre exercise; it's like "Seven" as reimagined by M. Night Shyamalan.
A clutter of recycled cop-movie and serial-killer film clichés.
38
USA TodayClaudia Puig
USA TodayClaudia Puig
By the time the movie reaches its protracted conclusion, it feels like a slog. Pacino has a few funny lines, as does Leguizamo, but not nearly enough to save the film from collapsing under the weight of its own self-righteous tedium.
25
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Righteous Kill, a.k.a. The Al and Bob Show, is a cop flick with all the drama of "Law and Order: AARP." This movie defines drag-ass.