Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 7, 2020 3.5/4.0

The kind of heart and humor-centered documentary that audiences will love and indie film fans will deeply appreciate.

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Betsy Sharkey Los Angeles Times Jul 6, 2011

Quirky, if uneven.

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Amy Biancolli San Francisco Chronicle Jun 3, 2011 3/4

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Fr. Chris Carpenter Movie Dearest May 27, 2011 B-

While the filmmakers do a good job showcasing their subjects' talents, I found the movie a bit lacking in exploring their personal lives and motivations.

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Chris Hewitt St. Paul Pioneer Press May 20, 2011 1.5/4

I imagine there is an audience that's dying to find out where the next great ventriloquist is coming from, but "Dumbstruck" does not have much appeal for folks who aren't already fascinated by this topic.

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Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion May 16, 2011 B

Doesn't plumb much below the surface of the subject, but remains an interesting curiosity.

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Bob Bloom Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) May 13, 2011 3.5/4

"Dumbstruck" will give you an appreciation in the effort and talent needed to be a ventriloquist.

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Mark Keizer Boxoffice Magazine Apr 25, 2011 3/5

Instead of shooting for real insight, the smoothly-edited doc maintains a pleasant course, as troubled artists continually navigate between compromise and concession.

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Chuck Bowen Slant Magazine Apr 25, 2011 3/4

Dumbstruck actually pays more convincing tribute to those willing to honor their interior calling regardless of the hardship.

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David Noh Film Journal International Apr 25, 2011

This winning documentary about people and their puppets proves both absorbing and moving.

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Ethan Alter NYC Film Critic Apr 22, 2011 3/4

A grounded, sometimes painfully honest look at a group of people dedicating themselves to a profession that the rest of the world doesn't completely understand.

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Tricia Olszewski Washington City Paper Apr 22, 2011

You may roll your eyes -- but damn, when that dummy belts out "At Last," it's much more likely your jaw will drop.

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Sean O'Connell Washington Post Apr 22, 2011 3/4

"Dumbstruck" is a documentary tailor-made for dummies and those who love them dearly.

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V.A. Musetto New York Post Apr 22, 2011 2/4

What a bunch of dummies.

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Willie Waffle WaffleMovies.com Apr 22, 2011 3.5/4

Relies on traditional, compelling storytelling to help us relate to a group of people who are about as far from traditional as you can imagine, but they are compelling.

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Joe Neumaier New York Daily News Apr 22, 2011 2/5

An earnest but undeniably eye-rolling documentary about the denizens of this odd pocket of show business.

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Dustin Putman TheFilmFile.com Apr 21, 2011 2.5/4

Though centering on ventriloquism, it is clear that director Mark Goffman's film could just as easily be about anything.

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Jeannette Catsoulis New York Times Apr 21, 2011 2/5

The writer and director, Mark Goffman, sticks to a no-frills style that makes the film feel longer than its 1 hour 24 minutes.

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Apr 21, 2011

[VIDEO] Dumbstruck [presents] an eye-opening view on its much maligned brand of creative expression.

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Nell Minow Beliefnet Apr 21, 2011 B+

It is impossible not to fall in love with the characters in this film - the human ones, anyway.

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