AllMovie

Despite the fact that it is wildly uneven, In the Spirit will appeal enormously to many people, especially those who value quirkiness above structure and order or who are willing to let a lot pass by in order to appreciate a very talented cast. Spirit's screenplay is both delightful and frustrating; it contains some dialogue and situations that inspire both heartfelt chuckles and belly laughs, as well as stretches that fall flat. The characters, though in some ways "stock," hold our interest and engage our sympathies, even as the plot careers wildly about, often in an untidy manner. Matters are not improved by the haphazard direction of Sandra Seacat, who does a good job of working with actors but doesn't seem comfortable with camera (and prop) placement or with niceties of plot development, and who, with Brad Fuller, has edited Spirit atrociously. And yet it's hard to not like a film that gives the wonderful Elaine May a chance to shine with her one-of-a-kind star power. May is a riot throughout, utilizing her unique comic gifts to craft a wonderful performance. She's well matched by Marlo Thomas, who works miracles with what could have been an annoying stereotype; the chemistry between the two is hard to beat. Throw in a supporting cast with the likes of Jeannie Berlin, Peter Falk, and Olympia Dukakis, and the result is a mess of a movie that somehow is much more enjoyable than it has any right to be. In the Spirit is that unusual movie that's really not very good but that will win many over thanks to the charms of its actors and its quirky wit.