Putting an entire life to film is a hard task, especially someone with a sprawling legacy like J.R.R. Tolkien. Director Dome Karukoski’s smartest decision was to focus this biographical romp on the early years of the famous author’s life, managing to make something tight, charming, and unexpected, even if it can be a little schmaltzy.
It’s good to head into Tolkien with the knowledge that the minds behind the film are all huge Tolkien fans. Karukoski has spoken about how he had wanted to adapt The Lord of the Rings, and at the movie’s recent WonderCon panel the cast and creators all gushed about the writer. So if you’re looking for an objective warts-and-all biography then this likely isn’t for you, but if you want a sweet, often fantastical story about love, creativity, and friendship then Tolkien will probably win you over.
Source: IGN.com Tolkien Review