John Leguizamo’s Critical Thinking is a strategic crowd-pleaser.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 9, 2022

It’s difficult to not become invested in a light-hearted story with good intentions, even when the storytelling feels scattershot at times.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 5, 2022

A smart and solid directing debut.

| Original Score: 3.5 / 5 | Jun 25, 2021

This drama is the classic story of an underdog team overcoming the odds and making it all the way; unfortunately, it falls back on stereotypical characterizations to tell its tale.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 19, 2021

The film questions the failures of the educational system through the experiences of a group of students of Latin and African American background [Full Review in Spanish]

| Jan 8, 2021

This is a movie for this moment, one that offers hope to the marginalized without pandering to them or offering up insincere platitudes.

| Original Score: 3.5/4.0 | Nov 27, 2020

an engaging and moving reminder that externally imposed limitations are meant to be shattered

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 21, 2020

The endearing cast generates hard-earned sympathy to keep the underdog clichés in check.

| Sep 19, 2020

It's filmed as if a conventional docudrama.

| Original Score: B- | Sep 13, 2020

Critical Thinking is worth a look for people who want to see a real-life inspirational story portrayed in a familiar way. The believable performances from most of the cast go a long way in preventing the movie from sinking into forgettable mediocrity.

| Sep 12, 2020

[It] captures the appeal of chess without defaulting to a white perspective of these students. It may be overly familiar at times, but just like the game of chess itself, sometimes it's the smallest moves that end up making the biggest difference.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 11, 2020

John Leguizamo managed to make chess interesting while telling this true story of a Miami, Florida teacher. He inspired his students and to a degree the movie inspires us all.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Sep 9, 2020

You won't find a lot of surprises in this story, but then the reason these formulas are so familiar is because they work.

| Sep 8, 2020

When John Leguizamo is just flowing with those kids... this movie is as good as any other [classroom drama].

| Sep 5, 2020

Director and Star John Leguizamo makes all the right moves in bringing story of underdog high school chess team to the screen.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 5, 2020

It's the kind of movie that gives you hope for America.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Sep 4, 2020

If nothing else, Critical Thinking reminds you what a chess player can look like.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 4, 2020

The story of Critical Thinking may be familiar and seem clichéd, but there's a specificity to its storytelling that's anything but those qualities.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 4, 2020

Leguizamo's storytelling, while conventional, features lively interactions, embraceable characters and credibly depicted struggles. The tournament scenes contain sports-movie adrenaline.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 3, 2020

This heartfelt drama about a rough-and-tumble group of high-schoolers who claw their way to a national chess tournament has a sweetness that softens its flaws.

| Sep 3, 2020