Lay the Favourite: Press reviews

'The going is good, but ‘Lay the Favourite' pulls up long before the finish.'

'A classy cast and Frears' light touch can't help this innocent abroad dramedy into the winner's enclosure. More jeopardy, less laboured larking, and it could've romped home.'

'An endless cycle of superficial characters making superficial decisions, coupled with Frears' inability to focus tone or style, leave us exhausted and distanced.'

'This unfunny screwball comedy caper is one of Stephen Frears's least distinguished films'

'this is a character comedy with no comedy and no character'

'The gambling just isn't interesting, and there's not much of a love story in compensation.'

'As desperately as they ham up their performances, they can't alter the fact that this is a gambling caper in which nothing's at stake.'

'an oddly lacklustre and forgettable affair.'

'So my advice is to ignore your movie favourites on this occasion and lay an outsider instead.'

'Flushes don't come much more busted than this.'

'It's a shocking bore, one of the worst of Frears' substantial career, but the agony is watching Rebecca Hall in her first serious flop.'