Reviews are in for David Robert Mitchell’s mystery thriller (with dinosaurs) movie “The End of Oak Street” and with 95 reviews counted, the film sits at a good 83% (7.1/10) on Rotten Tomatoes and much more average 67/100 on Metacritic. That RT score is higher than any of the “Jurassic World” films.
The film sees a mysterious cosmic event ripping Oak Street from suburbia and transporting their neighbourhood to someplace unknown – seemingly an almost prehistoric land. The Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings.
Produced by J.J. Abrams, the film is said to be a great big homage to Spielberg’s 1980s Amblin movies ranging from his own works to the likes of Richard Donner’s “The Goonies” and Joe Dante’s “Gremlins”. Some have liked that approach, and some have not.
Here’s a sampling of reviews:
“A crowd-pleasing but winkingly mean-spirited Amblin homage that perfectly captures the sweet menace of movies like “Gremlins” and “The Goonies”, “The End of Oak Street” is what multiplexes have been missing from recent summers.” – David Ehrlich, Indiewire
“While it’s mindlessly entertaining in a big-dumb-fun kind of way, this is a movie that doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be, beyond a worshipful homage to 1980s Amblin, canonical Spielberg in particular.” – David Rooney, THR
“I can’t fathom how The End of Oak Street actually exists, even if it is a perfect example of what the big studios should be doing right now — making original spectacles, ideally ones in which Anne Hathaway fires a rifle at a velociraptor.” – Alison Wilmore, Vulture
“The End of Oak Street isn’t merely a running buffet of references; it’s an honourable attempt to revive bygone blockbusting techniques for a contemporary crowd.” – Robbie Collin, The Daily Telegraph
“Much of the pastiche delight of the 1980s-set The End of Oak Street… is how it absorbs an Amblin-style blockbuster spirit and conjures, without winking irony or belabored homage, a summer thrill ride seemingly designed for the drive-in.” – Jake Coyle, Associated Press
“It’s not that The End of Oak Street is bad. It’s just flagrantly copying better movies and TV shows. It’s so determined to get ’80s loving Spielberg guys that it doesn’t really care if anyone else is interested.” – Kristen Lopez, The Film Maven
“How great if this type of four-quadrant filmmaking didn’t have to cosplay as a begotten relic — if it could take courage from these dinosaurs and thrive in our modern times.” – Amy Nicholson, The LA Times
“If you’re looking for carefree summer fun, look elsewhere. The End of Oak Street is not fun. It’s bleak, brutal, and ultimately infuriating.” – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
“The End of Oak Street” is set to open in cinemas on August 14th.
