Ann Lee Radio Times Aug 26, 2021 2/5

When The Short History of the Long Road arrives at its final destination with a message about finding your own path, it sadly fails to land much of an emotional punch.

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Nicole Ackman Next Best Picture Feb 1, 2021 7/10

It features a strong leading performance from Sabrina Carpenter and beautiful cinematography of the western landscape.

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Charles Koplinski Reel Talk with Chuck and Pam Nov 27, 2020 3.5/4.0

There's an incredible authenticity and intimacy conveyed within this film as Carpenter's "Nora" looks for answers and relies on her unique upbringing.

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Matthew St. Clair Cinema Sentries Sep 23, 2020

The Short History of the Long Road would have benefitted from having a lengthier run time. Yet, its naturalistic performances as well as its momentous yet moderate handling of parental mistakes.

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Dot Green The Spool Sep 9, 2020

The real success of Simon-Kennedy's film is portraying the same seductive quality of the open road that Jack Kerouac spent 20 years being annoying about.

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Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times Sep 9, 2020 3/4

Lyrical and melancholy and visually stunning...

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Carol Cling AWFJ.org Sep 9, 2020

Throughout, writer-director Ani Simon-Kennedy keeps The Short History of the Long Road in gear - but a lower, slower one than you might expect.

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Audrey Fox JumpCut Online Sep 9, 2020 3.5/5

The Short History of the Long Road is a more contemplative coming-of-age drama than most, but despite its frequently weighty subject matter, it never drags or becomes oppressively dark.

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Bill Newcott The Saturday Evening Post Jul 24, 2020 4/5

I have a feeling a decade from now lots of us will look back at this big-hearted road movie and say, 'Oh, yeah - that's the first time I noticed Sabrina Carpenter.'

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Russ Simmons KKFI-FM (Kansas City) Jul 19, 2020 3/5

Although it rambles like the endless roadways it follows, "The Short History of the Long Road" is a perceptive low-key character study.

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Carla Hay Culture Mix Jul 12, 2020

The Short History of the Long Road is more engaging than it should be, considering the movie's sanitized portrayal of being a homeless teenage girl.

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Pamela Powell Daily Journal (Kankakee, IL) Jul 2, 2020 4/4

Creating an environment that adequately expresses all of this could be a daunting process for any filmmaker, but writer/director Ani Simon-Kennedy expertly takes us on this adventure...

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Sarah Knight Adamson Sarah's Backstage Pass Jun 28, 2020 3.5/4

The film starts as a gentle father-daughter story and shifts gears towards a painful coming-of-age tale. Sabrina Carpenter carries the film superbly as she navigates her new life without her parents.

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Jonathan W. Hickman The Newnan Times-Herald Jun 26, 2020 7/10

...a lovely movie filled with disarming, soft-pedal performances in-keeping with the narrative's laid back vibe.

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Nathaniel Muir AIPT Jun 26, 2020 6.5/10

A standout performance from Sabrina Carpenter is the highlight of this very predictable story. The lack to attention given to the actual story is surprising in this otherwise fine coming of age story.

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Carey-Ann Pawsey Orca Sound Jun 25, 2020 3/5

Seemingly rambling about without a destination in mind at the end of the film you realize you have traveled somewhere.

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Linda Cook Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Jun 25, 2020 3.5/4

A gentle road trip well worth taking.

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Tara McNamara Common Sense Media Jun 23, 2020 4/5

Authentic coming-of-age road trip drama has teen pot use.

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Peter Sobczynski eFilmCritic.com Jun 18, 2020

It may not seem like much at first glance but The Short History of the Long Road proves to be a journey that is definitely worth taking.

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Todd Jorgenson Cinemalogue Jun 17, 2020

... crafts some intriguing character dynamics around a gritty tale of fractured families and self-discovery.

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