The amazing true story of Frédéric Bourdin, who after having plundered all the centers for runaway minors and deliquents in Europe, even thought he has come of age, now passes himself off as Nicholas Barclay, a 13-year-old American who had vanished three years ago. To his astonishment, Nicholas's family welcomes him like their son, leaving Interpol and the FBI aghast. It is the beginning of a race against time for the investigators, family and Bourdin. But who is manipulating whom? And who is Frederic Bourdin in reality?
Salome and co-writer Natalie Carter offer some explanatory psychology, but the complexities remain underdeveloped. Still, you won't be bored.
– Gary Goldstein,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jul 2011
rotten:
The execution falls short of its full potential.
– Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 Jul 2011
rotten:
Screenwriters, take note: Unless your story is a whodunit, it's an unforgivable flaw to telegraph early and often that, sometime during the final act, we should anticipate the proverbial rug to be pulled.
– Aaron Hillis,
Village Voice,
12 Jul 2011
rotten:
We see the impostor's trickery but not the pain driving it.
– Stephen Holden,
New York Times,
14 Jul 2011
rotten:
Characterized by a consistent scarcity of both drama and suspense.