Tenet reviews are in. So, what’s the verdict?

Tenet, Tenet, Tenet. This new Christopher Nolan flick has been a problem child for Warner Bros. It’s very clear based on the release delays that the filmmaker has been pushing the studio hard to launch the film as close to summer as possible. It was pushed back two weeks every few weeks from July to September. And now, September 3 looks to be the final release date for the flick. With that in mind, the reviews for the film are starting to roll on in.

This was always expected to be a big original blockbuster for Warner Bros., but Nolan is never one for low ambition. Each of his original films feature ambitious concepts and stories, and often run the risk of alienating. Yet, still, with his strong direction and intricate writing, he manages to make the concepts accessible and entertaining. Was he able to do this yet again with Tenet?

The early reviews are in! So, what are the critics saying?

THR gave an interesting review that is both promising…and a bit disheartening. The “bottom line” quote they gave is “easy to admire, hard to love.” And, in many ways, I see that as Nolan to the letter. He is so wrapped in abstract concepts, the actual humanity of his characters are a secondary concern. In fact, it’s that issue the critic seems to have with the film.

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“Altogether, it makes for a chilly, cerebral film — easy to admire, especially since it’s so rich in audacity and originality, but almost impossible to love, lacking as it is in a certain humanity,” they wrote.

Additionally, the critic does seem confused by the inversion mechanic that serves as the film’s centerpiece.

“I watched the movie twice for this review, and still feel very confused about what is supposed to be going on and why. Even more baffling than the why is the how, the fictional physics of inversion. All those outfits that make YouTube videos about movie plot holes and cinematic inconsistencies are going to implode with joy when they get a load of this.”

But, of course, they aren’t the only outlet. What do others think? The Times was absolutely ecstatic with what Tenet did with the medium.

“Does your head hurt yet?’ That line is delivered by suave British agent Neil (a scene-stealing Robert Pattinson) late into the twisty-turny proceedings of this globetrotting, jaw-dropping and delightfully convoluted big-screen blockbuster. Sorry, TV, your brief moment in the lockdown limelight is over — cinema, finally, has returned,” the outlet wrote in their review.

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That review annoys me because it gets me thoroughly excited for Tenet and makes me angry for deciding not to venture out to the theaters.

IGN seems to split the difference between these reviews. The critic clearly admired the film, its ambition, and entertainment value, but criticizes the inversion mechanic.

“But while Tenet frequently has (very serious) fun with its ideas, the time concept sometimes feels like it’s working more in service of creating exciting visual spectacle than the story itself,” IGN wrote. “It’s not as neat as Inception’s multi-layered dreams or Dunkirk’s triple timeline; that one character says “Don’t try to understand it” almost feels an admission of the film’s struggle to clearly communicate its premise. Like with many films that explore time, it’s difficult to fully make sense of how it all works.”

In short, it sounds like there is a real problem with the mechanics of inversion. That being said, this could also be one of those movies that requires a lot of study and rewatching to fully understand. Either way, it sounds like an entertaining ride.

As of this writing, Tenet is sitting at 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a lot of the reviews having similar opinions. Admiration, confusion, but with the acknowledgment of all-around entertainment. So, I leave the question to you…are these Tenet reviews worth making a trip to the theaters worth it?

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SOURCE: Various (linked above)