‘Before We Go’ Review Roundup: ‘Captain America’ Star Chris Evans Makes Directorial Debut At Toronto International Film Festival, Critics Call It A ‘Tedious Actor’s Exercise’

It is a common practice in the film industry to move from in front of the camera to behind. For some actors however, it ultimately becomes a bad move. Chris Evans is the latest actor to move to the director's seat and so far critics only commend the "Captain America" star for trying. Other than that, critics found "Before We Go" to be nothing more than the stereotypical actor's exercise involving being stuck in a train station with no where to go.

Chris Evans recently said to Indiewire, "It's intimidating to be talking about it, because I am so used to being an actor, where your job is a small piece of the puzzle . . . If I didn't like the movie it's not my fault. But this time, if you don't like the movie, that's my fault." It would seem that whatever fears the actor may have had about disappointing audiences have come true.

"Before We Go" recently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, a film festival that's often full of films that will go on to get seats at the next Oscars. Unfortunately, based on most of the reviews that are coming out, Chris Evans shouldn't expect his directorial debut to do much outside of a limited theatrical release.

Specifically, most critics are disappointed by the script. Variety calls the script "fundamentally dull" and "obvious." They go on to say that, "but mostly, the script labors to keep these travelers together (and away from credit lines and phone chargers) as they prattle on about their hopes, their fears, all the wrong decisions they've made in their thirtysomething lives, and the meaning of the word ‘depaysment'. For those who don't know, it's French for ‘a screenwriter's heavy hand'."

The Hollywood Reporter summarizes their feelings about the film: "Both actors are appealing. They show as much depth and sensitivity as is probably possible with these thinly conceived roles, and their easy rapport makes the instant connection credible. But the characters' problems and fears are not complex enough to be engrossing, and ultimately, they never become much more than a windily contemplative extension of a meet-cute scenario."

Despite how unhappy critics were with "Before We Go," the film did pick up distribution through the Weinstein Company owned division, Radius. No official theatrical release date has been set, but perhaps they'll try to bank on "Captain America" fans who miss their beloved Chris Evans. Given what critics thought, there's no other reason to watch the film.