67
Metascore
17 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90L.A. WeeklyPaul MalcolmL.A. WeeklyPaul MalcolmFor all its simplicity, however, the film is entertaining, even uplifting, with Lopez giving a stellar, confectionary performance.
- 88Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertSelena succeeds, through Lopez's performance, in evoking the magic of a sweet and talented young woman.
- 88ReelViewsJames BerardinelliReelViewsJames BerardinelliThis is a simple story of hope and triumph, of one girl with the drive to succeed defying the odds and following her dream. It's not an original tale -- movies like this abound -- but Nava's point-of-view is fresh.
- 80Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranLos Angeles TimesKenneth TuranSelena is in part a completely predictable Latino soap opera that should satisfy those who complain they aren't making movies like they like used to.
- 70The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenOn its own good-natured terms, Selena' is both pleasant to watch and instructive in familiarizing a movie audience with the Texan-Mexican borderland music known as Tejano.
- 50Christian Science MonitorDavid SterrittChristian Science MonitorDavid SterrittThe dialogue swings between platitudes and clichés, but the acting is lively and the music will set even lazy toes tapping.
- 50SlateSlateThe new movie of Selena's life ponderously carves each element of the myth in stone, as if this 23-year-old were a bust to be included on Mount Rushmore.
- 50Austin ChronicleRussell SmithAustin ChronicleRussell SmithUnfortunately, for all his large soul and exquisite mastery of image, Nava is also one of the worst writers to ever accrue more than two major-movie screenwriting credits.
- 50Rolling StonePeter TraversRolling StonePeter TraversMissing is a sense of the interior life behind the smiling face that Selena showed the world.
- 50San Francisco ChronicleEdward GuthmannSan Francisco ChronicleEdward GuthmannThe movie, directed and written by Gregory Nava ("My Family/Mi Familia"), is only so-so but Lopez, who appeared recently in "Jack'' and "Blood and Wine," is so vibrant that you almost forgive the movie's paint-by-numbers script and moldy formula.