53
Metascore
16 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 75Chicago Sun-TimesChicago Sun-TimesThis is the main problem I had with Don't Stop Believing: Everyman's Journey. On several occasions, the most interesting human details are either left out or barely commented on by the filmmakers, resulting in a documentary that skirts dangerously close to hagiography.
- 75Boston GlobeBoston GlobeIn the end, that debate might not matter, anyway. What makes Don’t Stop Believin’ work is that we’re along for every step of Pineda’s journey, from his not-so-stunning first day of auditioning to his performances in front of huge crowds to his backstage massages from a masseuse (presumably the band’s).
- 75USA TodayClaudia PuigUSA TodayClaudia PuigIt's a story that could only happen in an era of YouTube and American Idol. Well-chronicled and fascinating, Don't Stop Believin' is a cinematic journey well worth taking.
- 70Village VoiceErnest HardyVillage VoiceErnest HardyIt’s a moving tale made more so because even after he’s “won,” Pineda maintains a clear-eyed pragmatism about what living a fairy tale costs.
- 70The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckAlthough the overlong film skirts with hagiography, at times feeling more like a promotional DVD extra than an objective account, it nonetheless has an undeniable emotional pull thanks to its fairy tale-like narrative.
- 67The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayThe A.V. ClubNoel MurrayIt’s hard not to feel that there’s something missing from Don’t Stop Believin’, though. The movie doesn’t necessarily need to be dark, but Diaz barely touches on the downside of the Internet age — such as the nasty messages Pineda received from racist Journey fans — or how it feels to sing someone else’s words in someone else’s voice, night after night.
- 63Chicago TribuneMichael PhillipsChicago TribuneMichael PhillipsThe best material in the film is the loosest, capturing the perpetually insecure and overcompensating Pineda in his early concerts, leaping, bouncing, careening around as if every moment in every song were an audition for the next moment in the next song.
- 60New York Daily NewsNew York Daily NewsIt’s nice to watch the members marvel unendingly over their new find, while Pineda himself presents an ideal image of gratitude and hard work.
- 40Time OutTime OutUnfortunately for this rock documentary, this fan-to-frontman saga is not that interesting a turn.
- 25Slant MagazineSlant MagazineSadly, those looking for any insight into Journey from Ramona Diaz's documentary are going to have to look elsewhere.