Rent Reviews

Overall

4.00 of 5 (by 10 users)

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Rent Review Summary

Viewpoints reviewers are finding that Rent is a "smash play that translates quite well to the big screen." Director Chris Columbus, normally responsible for romantic comedies and the first two Harry Potter films, brings Rent from Broadway to the big screen with mostly positive results. Movie lovers report this film version wouldn't be their first choice, but fills in quite well as a substitute. While a select few are lodging complaints with the landlord, finding Rent to be a "slow-moving musical full of painfully bad songs and cringe-worthy dialogue," most are quite happy with their lease on the film about "living life, love, and death on the mean streets of New York City."

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Rent Comparison

Most Helpful
Favorable Review

smash play translates quite well to big screen.

MAY

2007

It's fitting that the movie version of the heartfelt Broadway musical update of La Boheme is in some ways a mess and in many ways a much better than you would think film-- especially when you realize the director is known for delivering bland movies. — The material is dated and many of the… read full review »

a lover of quirky unique films, a movie guru

ChrisJarmick
Seattle, WA

Most Helpful
Critical Review

Can I complain to the landlord?

SEP

2007

I really looked forward to this movie, having heard so much about Rent when it first opened on Broadway, and I was much too poor to afford tickets. What a sad disappointment, then, when I finally saw it and found it to be a mundane, slow-moving musical full of painfully bad songs and… read full review »

a movie guru, Lover of quirky, unique films

Telpher
San Francisco, CA

Rent Ratings and Reviews

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helpful
vote

They did not do the music justice much at all

JUL

2008

It's funny for me to be so in love with the broadway music of Rent since I never actually saw the play. Instead, my sister saw it and got the CDs which I copied and just loved every song. — I actually started watching it near the end and then recorded it the next time it was on so I could watch it all the way through. The first thing I noticed right off the bat was that the songs did not all sound the same. The song where Maureen and Joanne fight sounds excellent on the CDs as if they are both really angry, yet in the movie, it seemed more like a joke. Even… read full review »

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vivasuzi
Livonia, MI

Living live, love, and death on the mean street of New York City

a movie guru, a fan of clever plots, a sucker for drama

AUG

2007

Bottom-Line: Rent is good a Saturday night with friends when your first choice has been taken. — I didn't quite know what to expect when I sat down to watch Rent (2005); it was not what I expected. I have of course heard of the smash Pulitzer and Tony Award winning Broadway musical, but I knew little of its content. — Directed by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), Rent follows the lives of a group of young Bohemians in the East Village of New York City, as they struggle with life, love (heterosexual & homosexual), poverty, and… read full review »

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TheBard
Aurora, IL

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Such an eye opening experience

into movies that tell a great story, character-lover, into musical theatre

NOV

2007

Let me start off with the most popular question I've heard: Jesse L. Martin can sing? My answer? Yes he can! What a voice! Who knew!? Well, apparently the casting director for the original stage show did! If you are like me and never saw the original stage show, the movie is the closest thing you will get to it. Not only did they keep to the story, they managed to get 6 of the 8 Original Broadway cast on for the movie. In the roles they originated, none the less! Anthony Rapp as Mark and Adam Pascal as Roger, Jesse L. Martin in the role of Tom Collins, Wilson Jermaine Heredia as the beautiful… read full review »

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wrglrchsr
Madison, AL

They did a GREAT job with this one!

into musical theatre, DVD collector, movie connoisseur, movie buff, a movie guru, Lover of quirky, unique films, a fan of clever plots, character-lover

NOV

2007

Rent is my favorite musical of all time, so when they said they were making a movie of it, I was afraid - very afraid. Initially, they tossed around names like Brittany Spears and Justin Timberlake for the movie and I was appauled. Fortunately, they did the smart thing and used most of the Original Broadway Cast. :-) The two they didn't use from the OBC worked well into the original cast and have better voices than the original cast. Completely perfect! They couldn't have done a better job and I think Jonathan Larson would be thrilled! —… read full review »

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ShadowKat
Irvine, CA

An Absolutely Flawless Film!

a fan of clever plots, a sucker for drama, Lover of quirky, unique films, into movies that tell a great story

NOV

2007

This was a great movie. This comes from a person who is very picky about all films. I can generally find something wrong with just about all of them, but this one was wonderful. I would say it was better than the original broadway show! I don't like to watch most movies more than once, but I could watch RENT everyday if I had the time. It is great for all ages, and portrays a very important message and shows the world how this lifestyle affects people of all… read full review »

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methadonecandy
Curtiss, WI

This movie is amazing!!!

watching chick flicks

JUL

2008

Rent is an amazing movie with great life lessons. Its about People trying to find love when most are affected by the Aquired Immune Diffency Sydrome (AIDS). You have an amazing cast in the movie as most were the original Broadway cast in New York when Rent opened April of 1996. Great Movie I recommend it to everyone, its not appropriate for kids under 14-15 depending on their maturity level. —… read full review »

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Theatrebabe2009
Philadelphia, PA

No Day But Today!!!!!!!

character-lover, a movie buff, DVD collector, a woman, a comedy fan

JUN

2008

Hey you! Yeah Y-O-U, you! There's no day but today to go get this movie. If your into musicals and real issues this movie is something that you have to see. The music is AAAAmazing and very well written. I hope no one misses the chance to see this… read full review »

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kinarysingz
Richmond, VA

One of the best Broadway to DVD I've seen!

Lover of quirky, unique films

NOV

2007

Rent is one of my favorite Broadway shows and I was quite concerned about how it would translate to the big screen. I was totally impressed with how the show was presented on the movie screen as well as the DVD. I would highly recomend this DVD for everyone's… read full review »

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angwaller
458580204

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