32
Metascore
26 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80Washington PostStephen HunterWashington PostStephen HunterLawrence is miraculous, as always.
- 70Wall Street JournalJoe MorgensternWall Street JournalJoe MorgensternIt's a shrewd little comedy that uses good British actors to challenge its star, who rises to the occasion.
- 38Baltimore SunChris KaltenbachBaltimore SunChris KaltenbachThe best thing about Black Knight is when it finally says goodnight.
- 33Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean AxmakerSeattle Post-IntelligencerSean AxmakerIsn't merely bad, it's utterly flavorless and the filmmakers are either too lazy or too cynical to even pretend there's a story behind Lawrence's 21st century homeboy shtick in 14th-century garb.
- 30Washington PostMichael O'SullivanWashington PostMichael O'SullivanThis time-travel scenario is by now shopworn, and the normally riotous Lawrence, a manic and gifted clown, is hamstrung in his efforts to eke humor from the anemic script.
- 30TV Guide MagazineSteve SimelsTV Guide MagazineSteve SimelsThe lame and apparently tacked-on ending (which seems to crib footage from 2000's "Gladiator"), suggests the rather terrifying prospect of a Roman-era sequel. Five words: Be afraid, be very afraid.
- 20The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenA movie that knows its audience. Its underlying philosophy might be: why try harder when this is all they expect?
- 20Chicago ReaderLisa AlspectorChicago ReaderLisa AlspectorJamal (Martin Lawrence), starts trying to make the best of a bad situation, which becomes our job too.
- 10Village VoiceMark HolcombVillage VoiceMark HolcombSuited only for unwitting under-twelvers (though even they may not outlast the midpoint evaporation of Lawrence's shtick).
- 0L.A. WeeklyPaul MalcolmL.A. WeeklyPaul Malcolm"It's no longer funny, but he refuses to give up the joke." That just about sums it up except for the film's shopworn plot -- and its wretchedly cheap production design.