ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Aiden Melton The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

thesar-2 How does one review such a clichéd, though somewhat enjoyable indie film as Goats?While it wasn't the worst (absolutely labeled as an independent film and certainly not a mainstream) film, it was so by the numbers for this kind of film, it wasn't the standout I thought it would be. And that said, still, it has enough to carry me through to the ending.Poor Arizona. That's where I currently reside. We cannot get a break. This movie begins and centers around Arizona, specifically somewhere near Tucson, two hours south of me. It has a boy, well, young man, Ellis, who takes care of his hippie mother and is best buds with bud-producing Goat Man – not his real name, but since he's always around the animals he hates, it's been granted to him.Ellis needs to go to prep school – the same one his divorced father went to. And that's far away. Will his Stuck-in-the-60s mother (the always lovely, but never gets the full recognition as she should: Vera Farmiga) survive without her son? Will he get into trouble in school? Will his father reunite with him and if so, will it better him?The movie does play out in the A-B-C's of Independent Film, but again, there's enough interesting dialogue and characters to move the goats from one side of the script to the next. So, I mildly recommend it with the reservation that I challenge film students to expand on the clichéd tactics of hundreds of movies before them.

Matthew Stechel So so film has a really strong performance from "Modern Family's" Ty Burrell to recommend it for but sadly not much else to really separate it from the pack of the other high school kid comes of age in boarding school films out there. Film's trailer promises a wacky comedy about a hippie like guy with a lot of goats and a lot of life lessons to impart but the film really more or less uses him as set dressing...which is a shame because David Duchovny is clearly having a good time and is quite game for whatever the script wants to throw at him and indeed he seems so ready for wackiness that we all but laugh the first time we see him because it looks for all the world that his character is going to be the real star of this movie and a real laugh getter--but aside from having him duel with ex Weeds star Justin Kirk for the affections of a rather over the top Vera Farmiga the screenplay either can't or won't let Goat Man do much of anything else. The film's center is "The Good Wife" son Graham Phillips as a kid raised in the desert and finding his way in this boarding school--and befriending his roommate and finding a young woman and etc. The film's real star should've been Goat Man. I'm not saying that the film is lousy or even boring although it has some boring stretches, but its kind of slight, when the elements were clearly here for something really vivid and memorable. The film even has characters that it clearly doesn't know what to do with besides Goat Man and the crazy new age mom and the obnoxious boyfriend---there's also the tough chick who threatens to beat up Phillips at the beginning of the film, lives in the desert with Phillips and Goat Man and everyone and is taken under Vera famiga's wing in the middle of the film, but the film never gives her anything to do there's also Keri Russell (forever Felicity to me) who's character is given somewhat of a build-up but then once she gets introduced she's given nothing to do and is all but forgotten about from the rest of the film as well, which brings me back to Ty Burrell. He plays the much much hated father of Phillips' character. Vera Farmiga whom vastly overplays the new agey mother of Phillips' character (and is bravely unsympathetic here--meaning her character is very unlikable) has spent a good amount of her screen time bashing her ex-husband so when he finally shows up played by the dad from Modern Family--we're all ready to pretty much hate him--but the strong somewhat no nonsense portrayal by Burrell actually makes him the most likable character (not to mention the most level headed) in the entire movie. I thought his presence actually served to anchor the entire film itself--and his presence as a supporting character really served to help ground the whole movie itself into a reality that it was sorely lacking otherwise. Oh again its not that its a bad movie per se--but it should've been a lot better then it was.

seanshafer GOATS was the last film I saw at Sundance this year. What a great way to end my stay. Cinema needs the occasional breath of fresh air and Director Chris Neil may be it. Goats is a near perfect coming of age story. Based on the novel by Mark Poirier. Chris Neil captured the spirit of the book while adding a little magic of his own. He creates a tone, a mood that sucks you in and keeps you there. David Duchovny fits perfect in the skin of Goat man. Graham Phillips did a wonderful job playing Ellis. I imagine we'll see more of him soon. Vera Farmiga has a funny bone in her... who knew? I wish there were more movies out there like this. Unlike the big Hollywood block busters that leave you feeling empty and 12 bucks poorer, this film puts a smile on your face reminds you why we go to the movies. A rare gem.

astheworldturns1 Goats is one of the best films I've seen in a long time. It's smart, funny, engaging and brilliantly acted. Never once did I find my mind wondering or thinking this would be better if.... It had me captured from the beginning straight through to the end. The character of Ellis was sweet yet not too sweet and I found myself rooting for him the whole time. It was refreshing to see characters that were deeply flawed, but truly loved each other with all they had. The transformations were subtle, but real. The audience seemed to really connect with the characters and story. It was a coming of age story, but so much deeper and richer than the typical, run-of-the-mill coming of age flick. I feel luck to have seen this film and hope that others get the chance as well.