Broad, flat, lugubrious, the worst example of filmmaking that exists.

| Original Score: 0.5/5 | Jul 8, 2019

Despite the combination of bankable actors, a talented screenwriter and a fine director, Lay the Favourite is woefully disappointing.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 23, 2018

The degree to which Lay the Favorite fizzles out is ultimately nothing short of devastating...

| Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 30, 2018

A shrug of a film featuring unremarkable characters in an unremarkable story that never does more than limp toward it flat and flimsy third act.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Mar 8, 2013

... offers little insight into its subject or its setting and feels like it's been chopped up in the editing room.

| Dec 10, 2012

Poor Rebecca Hall. If someone had told her there was no hope for Lay the Favorite, she could have saved some energy.

| Original Score: 3.4/10 | Dec 7, 2012

This shaggy-dog story based on the improbable real-life adventures of exotic dancer-turned-bookie-turned-journalist Beth Raymer is never quite as amusing as it thinks it is, despite a charming performance by Rebecca Hall.

| Dec 7, 2012

Frears has a lot of fun with the bad tempers and high spirits of this crew of adrenaline junkies, and though the story falls a little flat, the script is sprinkled with dry wit.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 7, 2012

"Lay the Favorite" is a small and not particularly ambitious movie, but it's pleasing and exceptionally well made.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 7, 2012

What has happened to director Stephen Frears?

| Original Score: 1/5 | Dec 6, 2012

Best to say as little as possible, cut one's losses and move on.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | Dec 6, 2012

The dots are there, but they don't connect.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Dec 6, 2012

A listless comedy built around a vivacious protagonist.

| Dec 6, 2012

Hall works like mad to create this character, giving her a breathy voice and hair-twisting tics and wide-eyed expressions that, rather than rounding her out, only flatten her.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Dec 6, 2012

What little plot "Lay the Favorite" has is lost in a mess of a screenplay that does absolutely nothing to stand out in any way whatsoever.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Dec 6, 2012

Hollywood celebrities romping around in a candy-colored Alexa-shot criminal underworld, pretty much as a means of passing time.

| Original Score: 1/4 | Dec 6, 2012

Incoherent, loud and saddled with a lead character far less smart ... 'Lay the Favorite' simply lays down dead.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Dec 6, 2012

A wan comedy about gambling that takes no risks ...

| Dec 4, 2012

This is one bugged-out burlesque you can easily close the iron door on.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 4, 2012

As forgettable a motion picture as can be found during the 2012 holiday season.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 4, 2012