Hysteria is actually a gentle, good-humoured and surprisingly sweet romantic-comedy.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 29, 2021

The truth is that both Hugh Dancy and Maggie Gyllenhaal do fine here, though that is seldom the case when the two are together.

| Original Score: 2.5/4.0 | Sep 11, 2020

An entirely inoffensive, light and tasty little romp round Victorian London which has been nicely cast and delivered.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 30, 2019

The complex and fascinating social circumstances that surrounded the creation of what has come to be known as the vibrator hardly gets the realism it's due in this butchered history.

| Jul 24, 2019

Hysteria attempts -- and resoundingly fails -- to present itself as a light-hearted, empowering crowd-pleaser. Instead, all we come away with is the knowledge that Hugh Grant doesn't want to do this type of film anymore (but Dancy does).

| Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 5, 2019

Hysteria is actually quite well-mannered, especially given its title. It is also appealing, deft and has a truly memorable closing credits sequence.

| Original Score: B | Feb 2, 2019

Although it stumbles late towards its conclusion at a courthouse, "Hysteria" never drags or gets hung up on its easily exploited premise, opting to go for warm, gutteral guffaws rather than straight to the gutter.

| Jan 8, 2019

Hysteria might be the most unlikely romantic comedy of the year -- if not the decade.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jan 3, 2019

Unfortunately, we end up with a steampunk caricature of 1880s England, with more figurative winking at the camera than a sense of authenticity.

| Original Score: B- | Dec 6, 2018

The movie, directed by Tanya Wexler, is a pretty conventional British run at something fun, like when Stephen Frears does a funny one.

| Nov 17, 2018

The narrative does such a wonderful job of telling the story in a fun, open manner.

| Sep 8, 2018

Frivolous as it is, Hysteria is the ideal medium to introduce this part of history to the public. It's also an enjoyable little popcorn movie, with good performances.

| Aug 27, 2018

A superb cast led by Hugh Dancy and Jonathan Pryce with able support from Maggie Gyllenhaal and Felicity Jones, make this a must see.

| Sep 18, 2017

Hysteria isn't hysterical, but it's a light-hearted romp that will create its own buzz.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 11, 2017

Effective acting and Tanya Wexler's direction of a taboo topic (especially given the era in which it's set) cannot save the unbearably choppy and uneven writing of the movie.

| Original Score: C- | Sep 8, 2017

It's the writing that sinks Hysteria, and there's no machine that can alleviate that.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 11, 2015

A lame love triangle, suffragist speechifying and a wee bit of coy tittering regarding ladies' private parts.

Full Review | May 3, 2015

When you think of vibrators, 'charming' probably isn't the first word that comes to mind.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 4, 2013

Given the allure of learning the origins of something as buzzworthy as the vibrator, Hysteria provides just enough pleasures to give it a pass.

| Original Score: B- | Oct 22, 2012

Don't be fooled by the period costumes and British accents, Hysteria is as obvious and pandering as comedies get.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Oct 2, 2012