66
Metascore
10 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 83Original-CinOriginal-CinWhile relying on some historical information, its inherent sweetness is the main reason for its success.
- 82Paste MagazineTara BennettPaste MagazineTara BennettThankfully, 2023 continues to be a banner year for animation of all kinds, with The Inventor proving that its traditional techniques of animation—done with such skill, heart and passion—are just as timeless as the man who inspired their use here.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckDespite its heavy-duty subject matter, the film co-directed by Capobianco and Pierre-Luc Granjon is filled with welcome humor of both the visual and verbal varieties.
- 78Austin ChronicleRichard WhittakerAustin ChronicleRichard WhittakerThere's an undeniable boldness to Capobianco's decision to channel a biography through the medium of stop motion, but it's perfect for the untrammeled exuberance and boundless ingenuity of Da Vinci.
- 75San Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonSan Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonOftentimes da Vinci is pleasantly lost in the cosmos of his mind, what Willy Wonka called “pure imagination.” The target audience of “The Inventor” will surely relate.
- 70Film ThreatAlex SavelievFilm ThreatAlex SavelievIt’s charming in its own modest way (it ain’t Laika), but the simplistic character design is made up for with energy and creativity. Whether all the cadavers, complex inventions, existential musings, themes of progress and censorship, and politics will alienate the wee ones remains to be seen – but, again, at least it’s not pandering. The Inventor is charming and modest but also honest and true – a rarity these days. Hurry up and check it out before Gen Z cancels Leonardo for being a misogynist.
- 63ObserverEmily ZemlerObserverEmily ZemlerDespite its protagonist, voiced by British actor Stephen Fry, the film feels oddly disjointed, as if there’s not enough story to sustain 90 minutes of beautifully-made stop-motion and hand-drawn animation.
- 60Wall Street JournalKyle SmithWall Street JournalKyle SmithThe Inventor falls awkwardly between a kids’ movie and one for grown-ups.
- 50The New York TimesLisa KennedyThe New York TimesLisa KennedyThe Inventor is rife with somewhat didactic lessons — about power, innovation, curiosity — yet a presumably unintended one might be that lessons themselves, however insightful, are not always captivating.