42
Metascore
10 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 70The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckCourageous reveals the duo's growing expertise as filmmakers with its skillful blending of moving drama, subtle comedy and several impressive action sequences, including a well-staged foot chase and a harrowing shootout between the cops and bad guys.
- 70VarietyJoe LeydonVarietyJoe LeydonMoviegoers devoted to faith-based fare will flock to megaplexes for Courageous, easily the most polished production so far from brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick, the prolific and increasingly accomplished filmmaking pastors at the Sherwood Church of Albany, Ga.
- 50Slant MagazineEd GonzalezSlant MagazineEd GonzalezEven the logos for the companies involved in its making (Sherwood Films and Affirm Films) and distribution (TriStar Pictures) scream that this will be a message from on high.
- 50Boston GlobeTom RussoBoston GlobeTom RussoFor all Kendrick's stolidity, he delivers a couple of wrenchingly tender scenes.
- 50Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment WeeklyHow you like Courageous - an overtly Christian-targeted production about four police officers learning lessons about God and family - will likely mirror how you view church: It's either an overlong ordeal filled with talky sermonizing or an uplifting communion with your deity and values.
- For now, though, Mr. Kendrick will have to settle for being a good enough filmmaker, content to preach to the choir.
- 40Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinLos Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinCourageous, proves a particularly clunky, tunnel-visioned vehicle whose overbearing, overlong script nearly smothers the movie's quibble-free message.
- 38Orlando SentinelRoger MooreOrlando SentinelRoger MooreThe message delivered isn't subtle, with Kendrick delivering toss-away lines that suggest he doesn't even tolerate "the option" of divorce. But the bigger message might be that the Kendricks haven't sold out, "gone Hollywood" or watered down their Baptist beliefs based on efforts to reach an audience beyond the faithful.
- 33The A.V. ClubNathan RabinThe A.V. ClubNathan RabinCourageous literally preaches to the converted, delivering ham-fisted messages of responsibility to the most receptive audience possible.
- 30Village VoiceNick SchagerVillage VoiceNick SchagerBorderline creepy, Courageous endlessly expounds on the importance of God in men's lives but fails to answer the more pressing question of why religious sagas such as this treat subtlety as a sin.