0
The most egregious problem with The Nut Job is how shamelessly it fills in the gaps left by expanding Lepeniotis’ short with generic and tedious rogue-to-hero cliché.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
40
Arizona Republic by Bill Goodykoontz
Peter Lepeniotis’ animated film brings together a good cast, including Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser and Liam Neeson, which sounds like a sweet deal. But it places them in an uninspired little movie about selfish behavior, which, while overcome (of course), never really manages to escape its bitter roots.
25
There's no personality in the design or the script, which only renders the cynical aftertaste of this convoluted one-squirrel-against the-world story all the more potent.
40
Village Voice by Chris Packham
Good-natured and completely forgettable.
40
Austin Chronicle by Kimberley Jones
The richly hued CG animation is quite nice – a mix of hyperdetailed character work and painterly cityscapes and pastorals – and the script putters along with small but regular amusements.
63
The Nut Job has an interesting anti-socialist subtext, with the seemingly benevolent raccoon revealing himself as a power-mad dictator. It’s the most political non-Pixar cartoon feature since the very left-leaning “The Ant Bully’’ eight years ago.
50
The Hollywood Reporter by Michael Rechtshaffen
The production squeaks by on the visual charm of art director Ian Hastings’ period touches and warm autumnal hues. The voice talent is a decidedly mixed bag.
40
The critters look cute, but behave less so, while the competing-heists concept never quite takes off.
63
McClatchy-Tribune News Service by Roger Moore
Better than any animated film released in the doldrums of January has a right to be.
30
The Dissolve by Tasha Robinson
Even at 86 minutes, with plenty of chases and action sequences thrown in, The Nut Job feels overstretched and arbitrary.