76
Metascore
12 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 88The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Brad WheelerThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)Brad WheelerThe latest film from sports documentarian Gabe Polsky (In Search of Greatness, Red Army) is a doozy.
- 88Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MoorePolsky takes us on quite the sleigh ride, from the sunny silliness of gambling on Russian hockey, and then marketing it, to the grim reality that sets in — threats, intimidation and even murders.
- 83Original-CinJim SlotekOriginal-CinJim SlotekBy comparison with Red Army, Red Penguins is a less-polished, seat-of-the-pants effort that involved Polsky sitting and waiting in a Moscow hotel room for opportunities to do quickie interviews (with many still reluctant to talk about those days pre-Putin). But there is some evocative archival footage, including shots of the game’s between-period “entertainment,” which involved dancers from the strip club that operated within the arena.
- 80VarietyDennis HarveyVarietyDennis HarveyRed Penguins tells its story of outrageous, larger-than-life players in brisk, humorous fashion. Its assembly is always lively, aimed at engaging viewers with or without any interest in hockey.
- 78TheWrapSteve PondTheWrapSteve PondIn an era in which the collision of Russian and American interests is never far from the headlines, a weird little story about one crazy time those interests collided might even teach us a thing or two.
- 75IndieWireDavid EhrlichIndieWireDavid EhrlichMore than a cock-eyed peek back at an unprecedented culture clash, the film provides a bittersweet glimpse at a small, stained-glass window of time when anything seemed possible, and the concept of change was rich with promise.
- 75The PlaylistChristopher SchobertThe PlaylistChristopher SchobertRed Penguins is utterly stuffed with memorable stories and unforgettable people. Therefore, the film is unquestionably entertaining for hockey fans. However, it has no more gravitas than, say, any random ESPN Films “30 for 30” entry.
- 75RogerEbert.comMatt FagerholmRogerEbert.comMatt FagerholmPolsky’s skill in mining the darkly humorous shades of disastrous hubris is not all that surprising, considering he produced Werner Herzog and Nicolas Cage’s funniest film to date, 2009’s “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.”
- 70The Hollywood ReporterJustin LoweThe Hollywood ReporterJustin LowePolsky crafts an engaging, in-depth examination of the intersection of politics and hockey as Russia struggles to gain its balance following the demise of the Soviet Union.
- 70The New York TimesBen KenigsbergThe New York TimesBen KenigsbergIf Red Penguins doesn’t always strike a satisfying balance between the glib and the grim, the broader topic — the commercialization of hockey — affords it a novel lens on Russia’s economic transition.