A Thousand Words | Rotten Tomatoes

A Thousand Words

PG-13

Released Mar 9, 2012

1 hr. 31 min.

Comedy

List

0%

58 Reviews

Tomatometer

46%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Jack McCall (Eddie Murphy) is a selfish literary agent whose fast-talking ways allow him to close any deal. His next target is New Age guru Dr. Sinja (Cliff Curtis), but the savvy doctor sees right through Jack. A magical tree appears in Jack's yard, and, according to Dr. Sinja, the tree and Jack are connected; every time Jack says a word, a leaf falls from the tree. When the last leaf drops, Jack will die. With just a thousand leaves left, Jack must learn to curb his speech or he's a goner.

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Premiered Apr 02

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Critics Consensus

Dated jokes (A Thousand Words was shot in 2008) and removing Eddie Murphy's voice -- his greatest comedic asset -- dooms this painful mess from the start.

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Ilson SimÃ£o S

Já assisti 3 vezes, muito bom! Engraçado e com significado profundo.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

Mrs C

I am not usually one who gets the deeper meaning of movies, but I got this and I loved it. I think those who hated it expected to see the hilarious Eddie Murphy that we are used to. I enjoyed this story, it was heartfelt. Too bad it got judged so harshly.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/12/23

Full Review

It's just not interesting. There is no voice to be heard in this comedy. Much less a laugh.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/22

Full Review

Ryan K

Not as bad as what other critics say, but just barely passes as watchable with rare bold message of the importance of words....

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/18/22

Full Review

Keshon L

i got 7 words for this movie unfunny its not a bad movie but its a bad movie by the end of the day its pretty bland nothing that good about it wired but its not bad but bad.why is eddie in a lot of bad stuff? 5/10

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/25/22

Full Review

keith a

Funny, rather predictable, but could have been much funnier. I guess it's hard to be funny when a really unlikeable character isn't redeemed until the very last minute. Growing up watching Eddie Murphy this was a movie I somehow missed, so it was nice seeing the old Eddie on film again, but it's the shame the script didn't have more laughs. Bowfinger would be a much better film of his to watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Brian Robbins

Director

Eddie Murphy

Jack McCall

Kerry Washington

Caroline McCall

Cliff Curtis

Dr. Sinja

Clark Duke

Aaron Wiseberger

Allison Janney

Samantha Davis

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A Thousand Words: Official Clip - Nailed It

2:07

A Thousand Words: Official Clip - Talk Dirty to Me

1:43

A Thousand Words: Official Clip - You Found My Furry Tapes

1:36

A Thousand Words: Official Clip - Freestyle Chanting

2:12

A Thousand Words: Official Clip - Because I Got High

2:13

A Thousand Words: Official Clip - Show Her That You Love Her

2:15

A Thousand Words: Official Clip - Triple Shot, No Assassinations

2:12

A Thousand Words: Official Clip - Squirrels in My Pants

1:31

A Thousand Words: Official Clip - Baby Back Ribs

2:13

A Thousand Words: Official Clip - Making Peace

2:12

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

A disastrous comedy at times, with a few unexpected touching moments sprinkled throughout, A Thousand Words fails to come together like it should, and becomes a forgettable mess.

Rated: C-

Sep 8, 2017

Full Review

Kimberley Jones

Austin Chronicle

The idea of Murphy, that famously motormouthed actor, suddenly tongue-tied is not a punchy enough punch line to carry a whole film.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 16, 2012

Full Review

Nell Minow

Beliefnet

It isn't a horrible movie, at least not in comparison to Norbit from the same star and director, but it is a dispiritingly dull and cynical one.

Rated: C-

Mar 12, 2012

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

While it's certainly not unwatchable, the mood is rather muddied and the laughs are never big.

Rated: 5/10

Dec 2, 2020

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

One word will do - Sucks.

Rated: 1.0/4.0

Sep 26, 2020

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

None of it really works though. Instead of garnering laughs it only serves as a painful reminder on how funny Murphy can be when given the right material.

Rated: F

Apr 12, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Jack McCall (Eddie Murphy) is a selfish literary agent whose fast-talking ways allow him to close any deal. His next target is New Age guru Dr. Sinja (Cliff Curtis), but the savvy doctor sees right through Jack. A magical tree appears in Jack's yard, and, according to Dr. Sinja, the tree and Jack are connected; every time Jack says a word, a leaf falls from the tree. When the last leaf drops, Jack will die. With just a thousand leaves left, Jack must learn to curb his speech or he's a goner.

Director: Brian Robbins
Executive Producer: Jane Bartelme
Screenwriter: Steve Koren
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Work After Midnight Films, Paramount Pictures International, Saturn Films
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Dialogue|Sexual Situations|Some Drug-Related Humor)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.4M
Sound Mix: Datasat, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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