67
Metascore
15 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- The film's triumphantly perverse climax, in fact, is just that: a three-tiered split-screen of three couples shagging that resembles nothing so much as a national flag and is set to a rendition of "My Girl" sung by a black trio dressed as colonial soldiers. When it hits such giddily subversive high notes, Sammy and Rosie ... transcends provocation and bursts into ecstatic revelation.
- 90Washington PostHal HinsonWashington PostHal HinsonSammy and Rosie has a fierce, scrambled intelligence. In this story about a group of interlocking characters in a London neighborhood on the fringe, Kureishi and Frears rack up all of their views on sex, politics, colonialism, social injustice and rebellion like balls in a game of pool, then send them flying. And they seem less interested in pocketing shots than in watching the balls ricochet and collide.
- 88Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertFor people who love London and yet are thoughtful about it, this film is indispensable.
- 80The New York TimesVincent CanbyThe New York TimesVincent CanbyMr. Frears and Mr. Kureishi have composed Sammy and Rosie as if they were building a giant bonfire in a mock celebration of the achievements of contemporary British society and, by extension, of the civilized world. They throw everything on -love, death, sex, politics, violence. A lot of stuff doesn't easily burn, but there's also plenty that does.
- 75TV Guide MagazineTV Guide MagazineMatters become increasingly contrived as the film collapses in exhaustion from thematic overload. Still it's a fairly impressive achievement as a whole.
- 40EmpireWilliam ThomasEmpireWilliam ThomasNot as closely controlled as My Beautiful Laundrette, but still a purposeful cross-cultural comedy that raises a few questions alongside the few laughs.
- 40Time OutTime OutTossed together from a Hanif Kureishi screenplay which labours so many right-on themes that none leave their mark
- 40Washington PostDesson ThomsonWashington PostDesson ThomsonThe trouble is, since few characters are fully developed, it's hard to care who's doing what to whom and why.
- 10Los Angeles TimesSheila BensonLos Angeles TimesSheila BensonStunningly, ponderously bad.