Washington's adaptation boasts talented actors but lacks a nuanced script and the on-screen chemistry necessary to elevate the drama beyond the sentimental; it's feels more like a predictably maudlin Lifetime drama than an effective narrative film
the end result is a baffling feature that so desperately wants to be an entirely different film that audiences might worry they've stepped into the wrong theater; at least it packs a message and tone more befitting the source material
overall, "A Journal for Jordan" is a lovely film that is perfect for the holiday season when we reflect on the things that matter most and the people we hold in our hearts
it's Washington's most sentimental and heartwearming movie so far; "A Journal for Jordan" pulls at audience heartstrings in all the right ways by telling this romantic and bittersweet story that ultimately celebrates life and what we make of it
it's inherently touching and affecting; While the beautiful story does speak for itself, the dialogue is often overwrought, and Washington's direction is a bit too patient with its material; Michael B. Jordan stands out, but can feel underutilized
it pulls punches at every corner, shockingly has little interest in the titular journal itself and the eponymous Jordan, and sleepwalks through a lifeless love story; this is the worst directorial effort from Denzel Washington to date
Canedy's memoir becomes a plainspoken love story about the different meanings of loyalty; it's a movie that looks at tragedy through a lens that's both sentimental and stirring; a testament to Washington's plainspoken conventional embrace as a filmmaker
"A Journal for Jordan" is Denzel Washington's latest directorial effort and a baffling subpar melodrama boasting the quality of a made-for-TV movie in its writing, acting, and cinematic flair
by Sandie Angulo Chen [Common Sense Media ]
by Stacey Yvonne [Black Girl Nerds ]
