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Director Joel Schumacher is once again inspiring film critics to grumble about his work.

The Number 23 , which stars Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen, is a thriller that asks a lot of questions … too many questions, perhaps. And when it comes time for answers, they just don't satisfy.

Todd Hertz (Christianity Today Movies) says, "The Number 23 should be a provocative psychological thriller. It should be a good movie. It has an intriguingly creepy premise. It has a stylized (albeit disjointed and inconsistent) look and tone. And it has good performances—especially by Jim Carrey in his first dark, thriller role. You want to like it as you watch it."

Alas, it just doesn't work for him. "It's not that the film lacks anything. But in fact, it's the opposite. It has too much. Of everything. … [T]he Number 23 tries to carry too many themes, fit into too many genres and tell too many stories. Its promise is drowned out by a din of various themes, moods and storylines. Its thrills and tension are dampened by boring scenes of too much talking and repetition."

David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) says, "The movie closes with a quote from the Book of Numbers … 'Make no mistake about it; you will be punished for your sin,' which sums up the script's underdeveloped theme of fate." But does that make it a great film? "Despite an intriguing premise, director Joel Schumacher's neonoir tale is all style and little suspense, with a muddled plot and a contrived twist payoff. And 23 is also the number of letters in this advice to the wise: Take a pass on this vapid dud."

Lindy Keffer (Plugged In) says, " … [I]t doesn't matter a whit that it ends with a strong ethical message about taking responsibility for one's actions and setting a good example for one's children. Yes, the film's conclusion is a huge relief, both morally and psychologically. But in order to make it so, director Joel Schumacher … goes to great lengths to vividly portray every nook and cranny of the insanity and depravity that set the stage for it."

Christa Banister (Crosswalk) says, " … Schumacher does his best to set up the story in creepy, blood-red splendor, but not even Carrey's obvious ode to Jack Nicholson's chilling performance in The Shining can make the film's premise come off as anything more than just plain silly."

Mike Smith (Past the Popcorn) says, "In brief, the story is creative and unique, Carrey's acting is Oscar-caliber, and as we would hope, the story takes a surprising turn. But the turn that it takes is inconsistent with the film's internal logic, and the climax is a non sequitur."

Mainstream critics give 23 low numbers.

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