“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” starring Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks and Thomas Horn, has the intention of being a bittersweet story about a boy believing his father left him a message before he died in the Twin Towers on 9/11. However, critics seem to be mixed as to how to take the film.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film has garnered a 46% rating from the critics, meaning that it’s “rotten,” but only barely. The audience gave the film a 68%.

What the critics didn’t like about the film was its sweetness–in fact, they felt the film was too sweet. According to the consensus on Rotten Tomatoes, “‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’ has a story worth telling, but it deserves better than the treacly and pretentious treatment director Stephen Daldry gives it.”

The consensus is being kind, though. Individually, a lot of critics went for the jugular. “‘Extremely Loud [&] Incredibly Close’ is the kind of movie you want to punch in the nose,” wrote Tom Long for the Detroit News. “The mysteries aren’t that mysterious and some may have a hard time embracing its abrasive hero,” wrote Roger Moore for the Dallas Morning News (and his review is deemed as “positive” by Rotten Tomatoes). Kam Williams for AALBC.com, wrote succinctly, “Extremely tacky and incredibly unimaginative!”

However, other critics did find that the film was a unique story about dealing with sudden and extreme loss. But, for most, it would seem that the sweetness, coupled with Horn’s character, turned people off.

What do you think about the film? Give your opinions below.

Written by: Monique Jones