The Judge

"Part courtroom standoff, part dude-returns-home-to-small-town tale and part familial dramedy, The Judge juggles its components in pleasant enough fashion to warrant a low-expectation recommendation. Pleasingly, the two Roberts (Downey Jr. and Duvall) who top the cast list and square off as father and son bring their acting A games, with Duvall in particular helping coax Downey Jr. out of his usual glib comfort zone - though this over-exposed facet of the latter’s personality comes in handy as a brash, show-off, unscrupulous defence attorney."

"Pivots on a simple yet inspired stroke of casting, pitting Duvall’s iconic gravitas against Downey’s razor-sharp wit."

"A charismatic performance from Downey Jr and the growling presence of Duvall makes up for a multitude of sins in this big and brash family drama that puts the heavy emphasis on drama over family."

"A guilty conviction for Dobkin: first-degree, low-grade schlock."

"[The scenes] add up to a sprawl of narrative that is as unconvincing as the suspiciously sprawl-free, nostalgia-tinged town where it all takes place."

"Sadly there's no denying the charge: first-degree cheese, with intent."

"Undercut by obvious note-hitting in the writing and a deliberate pace that drags things out about twenty minutes past their due date."

"A great cast and promising premise get swamped in an awkward mix of airport-novel noir and blokey family melodrama."