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Cake (15)

Drama

Claire becomes fascinated by the suicide of a woman in her chronic pain support group while grappling with her own, very raw personal tragedy.


The critical consensus

Jennifer Aniston lifts an addiction drama with a committed but never showy performance. It’s a pity the rest of the film can’t cut as deep.

***(*)(*)Ian Freer, Empire Online, 16/02/2015

The drugs don’t work – but thankfully Aniston does – in this slight but sly portrait of pain-meds hell, which wallows in self-pity when it should be grabbing our sympathy.

**(*)(*)(*)Kate Stables, Total Film, 16/02/2015

It seems cruel to suggest that Cake has a soggy bottom but it does feel only half-baked.

***(*)(*)Allan Hunter, The List, 16/02/2015

A manipulative affair propped up by a whip-smart lead performance.

**(*)(*)(*)Charisse Loughrey, Little White Lies, 19/02/2015

As for Aniston, she gives an honest, well-intentioned performance, but it is marooned in an unsatisfying script whose emotional effects are unearned.

**(*)(*)(*)Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 19/02/2015

Jennifer Aniston gives a fine, if self-conscious, performance as Claire Bennett, the grieving, pain-wracked, pill-popping, hard-drinking heroine in this well-made but manipulative drama.

***(*)(*)Geoffrey MacNab, The Independent, 20/02/2015

You hope it might open a few more opportunities for Aniston to test her mettle but even with her striking central performance to carry the film Cake is only half baked.

***(*)(*)Allan Hunter, Daily Express, 20/02/2015

Verdict: A sad slice of life

****(*)Brian Viner, Daily Mail, 20/02/2015

A skuzzy, scowling and sarcastic Jennifer Aniston is the best thing about this indie-by-numbers redemption tale.

***(*)(*)Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman, 21/02/2015

Perhaps Cake demands too much patience from its audience, but that is what a person consumed by grief requires.

****(*)Brigit Grant, Sunday Express, 22/02/2015

You hope for the tang of lemon drizzle; what you ultimately get is Madeira, with the proverbial soggy bottom.

***(*)(*)Jonathan Romney, The Observer, 22/02/2015

Where and when?

General release. Check local listings for show times.

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