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Peter T. Chattaway (Christianity Today Movies) says, "Somewhere along the way … something gets lost. Part of the problem lies with the film's structure; it is based on the first three books … and it zips through them so quickly that we never get a chance to savor the stories properly. Fans may also object to the way the film tries to tie things up a little too neatly, and in ways that might make it difficult for the filmmakers to adapt the later books. But then, who knows—it may be that the film also reveals secrets that have not been spelled out in the books, yet. Either way, we can be grateful that the series has given Carrey one of his better vehicles in recent years, and that Carrey has risen to the occasion so well."

Styling his review in the language of the novels, Steven D. Greydanus (Decent Films) says, "The film manages to be a reasonably entertaining take on a series of unfortunate events that I must acknowledge I now want to follow with the Baudelaires to the end. There is, however, no getting around the fact that fans of the books are bound to feel shortchanged by the filmmakers' decision to mix and match scattered events from the first three volumes, rather than trying to follow the stories in order."

Steven Isaac (Plugged In) says, "Unlike Harry Potter, witchcraft isn't the issue here. It's pure imagination that powers Lemony Snicket's world. That's a huge relief. But while Snicket's pre-movie warning about how dreary his story is may be a literary bauble, it's true. Parents should be prepared for questions about the possibility of their own deaths and how such an unfortunate event would affect their youngsters. I can't imagine that children wouldn't have that apprehension on the tips of their tongues after watching. They might not actually bring it up, but they'll certainly be thinking about it."

"There is nothing spiritual about it, not one bit," writes Annabelle Robertson (Crosswalk). "It is also a very dark tale indeed that, despite a strong history of this kind of writing in literature (most notably Victorian), may alarm certain parents because it teaches children that the world is an evil place and that few adults can be trusted (although the narrative, by Jude Law, attempts to overcome this message at the end). Also disturbing to some may be the use of a few profanities … and some questionable subtitles. Such a shame. So proceed with caution. On the other hand, the film presents very clearly the battle that we all face, between good and evil. It emphasizes the values of knowledge, reading and problem-solving for children. And, as all stories must, it does end on a positive note, despite the author's claims."

Harry Forbes (Catholic News Service) calls it a "delightfully macabre" film "that adults can enjoy every bit as much as the tykes. Silberling's widescreen adaptation gives Jim Carrey a field day embodying various characters with his customary aplomb. The film has an excellent moral ending which wraps things up on a high note."

A series of positive reviews from mainstream critics offer differing views on whether Carrey improves or weakens the film.

World Magazine says, "The mood of the film is dark and somber, fitting for a story about the life of recent orphans, but not always a good match for Jim Carrey's over-the-top physical humor. While most adults in the film are not to be trusted, good mostly triumphs over evil in the end. The children are bound together by their parents' love, ready to overcome further 'unfortunate events' that may come if there's a sequel."

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