Critical response The film received positive reviews from critics. On
Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 82% based on 33 reviews, with an average rating of 6.6/10. On
Metacritic, the film has an aggregated score of 62 out of 100 based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Andrew Parker of
The Gate stated that "
Funny Boy handles both of the material's main angles with respect and compassion, which is a testament to Selvadurai's source material and some of Mehta's strongest visuals to date....this story can be viewed as another great example of how human rights abuses are allowed to run rampant because those experiencing them are staying silent in a bid to go along with the nationalistic flow." Tracy Brown of the
Los Angeles Times wrote that "It's both precious and refreshing when queer characters in coming-of-age stories fall in love without having to overcome any inner turmoil over their identities, so Arjie and Shehan's story is plenty heartwarming." Jude Dry of
IndieWire gave the film a grade of A−, writing that it "is a luminous coming-of-age tale seen through the eyes of a relatable yet entirely unique experience." Deborah Young of
The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "Vividly drawn characters portrayed by a lively, likable cast in a seductive tropical atmosphere make this a welcome return of Toronto-based Mehta to filming her native Indian subcontinent." Chris Knight of the
National Post rated it 3 stars out of 5 and stated that "Certainly a little background into the conflict would help non-Tamil viewers find their footing. Even so,
Funny Boy remains at one level approachably universal in its appeal." Cath Clarke of
The Guardian also gave it 3/5 stars, praising the first half of the film but criticizing the second half; she concluded: "In the end the story is told rather blandly, the edges sentimentally smoothed down."
Kevin Maher of
The Times gave the film 2/5 stars, describing it as "a film of thoughtful themes (the poison of intolerance), crudely emblematic scenes and overwritten dialogue", and added: "Worst of all, it soft-sells the horror of ethnic cleansing, with a climactic neighbourhood massacre reduced to a few broken windows and some offensive chanting." Roxana Hadadi of
RogerEbert.com gave the film 2/4 stars, writing that it "falters when trying to link together the personal and political, making for a well-intentioned film that never delivers much depth." While holding Mehta accountable, Tina Hassannia of
The Globe and Mail questioned
Ava DuVernay's ARRAY distributing the film, writing that "the pioneering American director, a vocal supporter for onscreen representation, might have wanted to question the casting decisions of Funny Boy before taking it on.” The film was named to TIFF's year-end
Canada's Top Ten list for feature films.
Awards and nominations ==See also==