3.5/4  A Winona Ryder film to fall in love with
Depends what type of mood you are in. If you are single and looking for more than you can totally relate to this movie and it is awesome. If you aren't then this movie will probably appeal less to you. Either way this movie is acted well, ... (read full)

3/4  The title says it all
Recent college grad Lelaina (Ryder) must decide between a coffee house dwelling slacker named Troy (Hawke) who continually loses menial jobs, and Michael (Stiller), a decent hardworking yuppie in Chicago. Essentially a film that started it... (read full)

1/5 This film BITES
  by G. Torres (New York, New York)
Full of ridiculous stereotypes and cliches. As a former fan of Mrs. Ryder this has got to be one of her most annoying characters for me. STALE and SUPERFICIAL are words that I use to describe this movie. I honestly don't see what so many people see in this movie. Ben Stiller has the potential to be a good actor and director but this film for me like its title BITES!

5/5 This is my era. Long live the 90s!
  by Good Tunes (West Coast)
For those of us who lived and breathed the 90s... This movie rocks! It totally captures our generation, what seems to be the long gone era of grunge... before boy bands, Britney, Paris and Bush came along to destroy humanity. Grab a popcorn and get nostalgic.

2/5 1.5 stars out of 4
  by One-Line Film Reviews (Easton, MD)
The Bottom Line:

A depressingly formulaic and unappealing movie in which the main character must decide romantically between a suit-wearing bigshot and a soulful poet-writing ne'er do well (guess which one she chooses), Reality Bites should be of interest only to those who want to steep themselves in mid-90's nostalgia.

3/5 Little bit of nostalgia for the Gen Xers!
  by Gillian Coleman (Midwest)
This movie is a bit of history now for Gen Xer's that have moved on in life.

4/5 This reality feels just right...
  by Andrew Ellington (Mulholland Drive)
I think that `Reality Bites' has been unfairly labeled as thin and hollow. I actually feel as though the film tackles its issues with grace and delicacy, handling the subject in a way that feels complete when the credits begin to roll. The film was never meant to be a weighty message type film but more a relaxed look at real concerns of the youths of the 90's (or `Generation X'). For what it sets out to do, I think `Reality Bites' works very well. When you couple the finely crafted script with the exceptional cast and Ben Stiller's surprisingly attune direction you have a very entertaining and satisfying cinematic experience.

The film follows a group of friends after they graduate from college and struggle to decide what to do with their lives. Their lives in general are being documented by Lelaina, an aspiring filmmaker. She passes around her video camera asking her friends intimate questions and capturing their every moment on film in order to document the struggles of the average young adult. Her friends include the promiscuous Vickie (Garofalo in a sublime supporting performance), the slacker Troy and the closeted Sammy. Together they make for an interesting group, and when you add in Michael Grates, a video executive who takes a liking to Lelaina after a fender-bender causes them to meet.

The script allows the cast to really sink into the issues their breed of young adult faces in a world that is not ready to accept them despite the fact that they are finely crafted. They are over-educated and under-appreciated and cast into a world that doesn't `get' them. Each actor really grabs hold of their character and delivers a strong and passionate performance. Janeane Garofalo is wonderful as Vickie, really getting the sense of her characters fears and ambitions. Steve Zahn is good as Sammy, but he does take a backseat to the rest of the cast. Ethan Hawke and Ben Stiller are both superbly cast as the two opposite ends of Lelaina's love life. Hawke creates a very believable mess inside of Troy, and Stiller finds new depths of sincerity in order to make Michael a likable and nearly lovable man. The real star is Winona Ryder though, who just illuminates each scene as Lelaina. She had such a wonderful year (with this and her Oscar nominated turn in `Little Women') that it is a shame to see that her star has faded to date.

In the end I must say that I was very impressed with `Reality Bites', and am pleasantly surprised to say that it is one of the hidden (or maybe more or less misunderstood) gems of the year that was 1994. Sure, the year in general was not overly impressive (aside from a few amazing films it was rather dull), but `Reality Bites' is one of the highlights of the year, and is definitely better than the film that ultimately won Best Picture (don't hate me because I'm right).