78
Metascore
7 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperChicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperIt’s funny as hell in a drive-in splatter movie kind of way, smart and insightful and respectful in its depiction of modern-day teens, brimming with sly and satiric social commentary — and legitimately profound.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckMaking his feature directorial debut (he's written such screenplays as Insurgent and Underwater), writer/director Duffield expertly handles the complex tonal shifts, keeping us on edge even as we're laughing. We're also thoroughly engrossed in the main characters' fates, thanks to the witty, perceptive dialogue and the two leads, who bring an unforced, charming naturalism to their performances.
- 80The GuardianLeslie FelperinThe GuardianLeslie FelperinThis debut feature from writer-director Brian Duffield (best known for his screenplays for Underwater, The Babysitter and Jane Got a Gun) has plenty of gallows humour to leaven the gore and tragedy, and plenty of subtexts swimming under the surface like glittering, metaphorical koi.
- 75RogerEbert.comMatt Zoller SeitzRogerEbert.comMatt Zoller SeitzWhenever Spontaneous starts to run out of imaginative juice, it turns a tonal corner and either puts a smile on your face or wipes it off.
- 75San Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonSan Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonBloody good.
- 70Screen RantMolly FreemanScreen RantMolly FreemanBloody, fun and achingly heartfelt, Spontaneous presents a clever and original story about life, love and how suddenly things can change.
- 63Chicago TribuneMichael PhillipsChicago TribuneMichael PhillipsSpontaneous allows Langford’s Mara, blasé swagger incarnate, and Plummer’s stealth charmer enough unaffected sincerity to make it stick. Onto that sticky stuff, the script applies comforting reminders: Stuff happens. We don’t know how long we have. Seize the day.