Chamber of Secrets
Rupert Grint’s Rave Reviews for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
“…and Rupert Grint’s Ron continues to play the goofball, but remains the franchise’s only real treat.”
“The actor who shines for me in this magical story is Rupert Grint who plays Ron Weasley. He has a style all his own and is very entertaining.”
“In my opinion, this movie far out-rates the first with Rupert Grint’s performance as Ron Weasley being one of the star attractions – his facial movements are superb and one can actually experience his fear or jubilation.”
“Grint, even at his young age is showing real promise for comic timing and I predict that he will see character acting success long after the Potter series has finished.”
“Still, it’s Grint that’s the standout among the three. He’s a magnetic actor, and his facial expressions are priceless. Grint’s the perfect comedian to Radcliffe’s straight man. ”
“More entertaining is Rupert Grint, a comic delight at Ron Weasley…”
“My favorite character in this movie was Ron Weasley… Rupert Grint did an excellent job portraying Weasley.”
“And as Ron, Rupert Grint again steals the show among the child actors. His voice now has a Peter Brady-esque crack, but there’s no way to not laugh at the way he crinkles up his face in frightening situations.”
“The slack is taken up by the rubber-faced Grint, who once again steals many scenes by adeptly playing the frightened tag-along.”
“Grint is particularly endearing as Weasley and displays a sharp comic timing for his young age.”
“Grint shows he’s becoming a delightful comic actor with a highly flexible voice. He quite capably handles much of the slapstick (some of the funniest bits involve his backfiring magic wand) and also gets the majority of the movie’s best lines.
“Radcliffe, however is overshadowed by the wonderful performances Grint and Watson turn in… If Harry is Luke, then Ron Weasley is Han Solo, and Grint perfectly portrays him.”
“Rupert (Ron) is definitely the best of the three at playing his part. He certainly has become Ron.”
“Rupert Grint is definitely a good actor and he has all the potential to be the next Tim Allen.”
-By Andrew Chan (28 December 2002)
“As played by the marvelous, rubber-faced Rupert Grint, Potter’s buddy Ron remains my favorite character. He’s an amiable, enthusiastic everyday Joe, trying to keep up with his more gifted friend, and capable of intense loyalty and courage.”
“The acting is really the biggest improvement from the first film. Rupert Grint is absolutely adorable as Harry’s red-headed sidekick Ron Weasley, whose voice seems to have dropped an octave or four since the last movie. He effectively steals every scene that he’s in, whether driving a flying Ford Anglia or squeaking out his fear of spiders…”
“There may be no doubt that Radcliffe is the ideal Potter, but he manages to give another passionless performance that is easily upstaged once again by Grint and Watson.”
“Grint is funnier than before, and although Ron is constantly in Harry’s shadow, to the audience he’s every bit as much a hero.”
“Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, the hapless third member of the team, is still the best thespian of the three. With a rubbery face that can go from confused to terrified in less time than it takes to tell, he’s the one with the most childlike quality and the one in which we invest the most emotional stake.”
“Grint’s Weasley has much more to do in The Chamber of Secrets, and he handles the extra load with uncanny aplomb.”
“But Rupert Grint’s Ron alone is worth the price of admission, particularly when up-chucking slugs.”
“Grint already has the best name for a comic actor, and he demonstrates the willingness to look foolish that all great comic actors need: I’m sure he has no control over the adolescent cracking of his voice, which swings into a high falsetto when Ron is scared or nervous, which is often, but he gets high marks for allowing himself to take advantage of a situation that makes most teenaged boys cringe with embarrassment.”
“What makes the film as successful, I think, is the acting done by the young Daniel Radcliffe (as Harry), the charming Emma Watson (as Hermione), and the striking Rupert Grint (as Ron Weasley).”
“Rupert Grint is the star of the show. The number of facial expressions this boy can make is astounding, and he is the most credible of the three, as I think he is the most like his character.”
“Grint is developing a keen sense of comic timing, and his mugging for the camera — such as in a scene where Harry and Ron have to confront a legion of giant spiders — is almost Abbot and Costello-like.”
IMDb Reviews (Shannon Patrick Sullivan)
“But of the three young leads, I must admit to having an insatiable appetite for the humor that Grint and the character of Ron Weasley bring to the film. He does a hilarious “scared” better than most youngsters, and I look forward to more of it as the series continues.”
“Particularly surprising was the well-timed and well-acted comic moments offered by a squeaky-voiced Rupert Grint.”
“The redheaded Rupert Grint, as Ron, is maturing into a wonderful clown: When a talking spider that’s literally (pace, Woody Allen) the size of a Buick cues a furious arach attack, the spiders are upstaged by Grint’s Stan Laurel-like cringing—by that mouth that, spread in fear, threatens to swallow his entire face.”
“Radcliffe is back, rounded glasses and all, along with scene-stealers Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson).”
“Rupert Grint generates the majority of laughs from the audience with that grimaced look on his face when Weasley faces danger.”
Montgomerry College Film Series
“Grint emerges as a winning sidekick, an excellent source of comic relief.”
“Rupert Grint’s rubbery expressions of haplessness are well suited to the comic relief of Ron Weasley.”
“It’s unfortunate to see Watson’s screen time diminished in the final hour, but Rupert Grint more than makes up for it with a masterful blend of comic timing and the best fearful nuances since the Cowardly Lion.”
“Then there’s Rupert Grint. Is it just me, or is the character of Ron Weasley the genetic fictional descendant of Ralph Malph from HAPPY DAYS? I mean, Grint has a more than a passing resemblance to Don Most, he has that same “wimp factor” thing going, except he has far superior comic timing, and giving him a broken wand… CLASSIC!”
“As with the first film, I still feel Radcliffe is the least interesting of the three leads. Graves* is funnier here than he was in the last film and it’s especially unfortunate that lovable know-it-all Hermione, played so well by Emma Watson, gets less screen time here.”
* This is a typo, they mixed up Rupert Grint with Rupert Graves!
“So many people in the audience will be able to relate to Grint’s presentation of Ron. We have all been there, a kid in school that feels out of place, holding on to the few friends he has made.”
“Most of the cast from the first film returns for the sequel and they are still in top form. Harry and Ron’s voices are notably changed, but they still deliver great performances.”
“Ron and Hermione provide some great moments…”
“The three main kids, Harry, Ron and Hermione, have all matured nicely since the first movie and their characters were really well-fleshed out this time. (They’re all gonna be lookers in a few years, I tell ya what.)”
“Ron and Gilderoy were especially funny, I just adored them.”
“The young actors are now more comfortable and believable in their parts and it’s fun to see where Ron (Rupert Grint) lives with his whole, large family.”
“However a lot of complaints I have about the first film, such as Emma Watson as Hermione being so specific and careful about her dialogue was an annoyance… here she shines and stands out almost as solidly as Rupert Grint still does in his role as the sidekick Ron.”
“Rupert Grint has some nice comic moments again as Ron Weasley, even if there were times when he seemed to be overdoing it.”
“The two lucky actors to share the largest supporting roles, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, as “Hermione” and “Ron,” respectively, don’t have to take up the acting slack in this film, as they did last year. But they are still make a good impression acting alongside the biggest names in the English acting world.”
“His young co-stars — Emma Watson as the brassy, brainy Hermione Granger and Rupert Grint as redheaded misfit Ron Weasley — not only keep pace with Radcliffe, fleshing out their roles considerably, but also hold their own against the film’s fantastic adult cast.”
“The returning cast members, especially Daniel Radcliffe as Harry and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, are just as good this time out as they were in the previous film.”
“The growth of the child actors helps that trend to succeed. Actually, of the three main kids – Harry and his compatriots Hermione and Ron – only Radcliffe seemed like a weak link in the first flick.”
“Young Daniel Radcliffe is certainly capable in the role, but Harry himself is just never drawn as all that interesting a figure. This is especially evident in comparison to his two companions, Hermione and Ron, both of whom come off as easily more movie-worthy than the saccharinely bland figure of Harry Potter. [...] But both Watson, and Rubert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley are electric! Watching them grow just from one film to the next has already been a joy. If nothing else, I look forward to the next Potter installment just to see what those two become.”
“The child actors are also up to the challenge, led by Emma Watson as Hermione Granger and the red-haired, rubber-faced Rupert Grint, playing Hogwarts student Ron Weasley.”
“Strong performances fuel Chamber’s darker side. No longer impish children, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson earn their acting stripes here. Rupert develops a wonderful sense of comedic timing…”
“Our stalwart trio (Radcliffe, Grint and increasingly gorgeous Emma Watson) rises well into their roles as they levitate to greater maturity, and they are fully engaged in the dangers and exploits.”
“Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson are as good as they were last time, and in spite of the bizarre press their aging has been receiving, it is entirely appropriate that voices are breaking, complexions are deepening, and the signs of maturation are at least present on the outside.”
“Nonetheless, the focus remains on Harry, Ron and Hermione, and these kids are growing up fast! Now with deeper voices and richer facial features, each actor is slowly coming into their own in terms of developing the characters’ traits and emotional range. [...] Radcliffe and Grint have surely found their footing as the heroic and comic duo of the film…”
“A compelling aspect of The Chamber of Secrets is seeing how much the cast has grown. This movie has provided the cast with an opportunity to show off their talents as young actors. [...] No longer just children, audiences are bound to find the Hogwarts heroes more admirable than adorable.”
“Besides growing as actors, puberty has left its mark on the cast. [...] Grint, on the other hand, is still experiencing life’s changes as Ron’s voice squeaks more throughout the movie than his pet rat. This, however, bodes well for his character who spends a majority of the film trembling in fear.”
“The young actors — Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Rupert Grint as Ron, and Emma Watson as Hermione — exude a new ease.”
“The contrasting personalities and acting styles of young Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson as Harry and his wizard-in-training schoolmates Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger blend into a complementary group pluckiness.”
“The trio of young actors – Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint – is back. Each of the young stars gives a more confident and polished performance than in his or her previous outing.”
“The acting is also flawless, especially from the three leads. Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson have achieved a charming chemistry together that is both funny and endearing. The surprise is that you’re not just rooting for Harry Potter, but for all three of them.”
“This time around the kids are more comfortable in their roles as Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and it shows in the final product. [...] The young stars have matured and more fully take on their character personas.”
“Young leads Radcliffe, Watson and Grint are all spot-on.”
“… the performances of Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and pals Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger (Rupert Grint and Emma Watson) are much more self-assured and authentic.”
“All of the children spring forth from the brightly colored novel covers and inhabit their roles as if they were born to play them.”
“The three young leads have grown nicely into their roles, displaying more confidence and maturity in their performances…”
“The three young stars–Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson–radiate a newfound confidence.”
“Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint and Hermione Granger have grown with their characters, and deliver assured performances in the central roles.”
“We’ve got Harry and his best buds Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint); managing to out act most of the top actors in the United Kingdom… and that’s how it should be.”
“While stars David Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as pals Harry, Hermione and Ron have added to their acting chops since debuting in Stone, their efforts are ground down by the spectacularly listless direction by Chris Columbus. ”
“The three whose job it is to carry the film, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron) and Emma Watson (Hermione), have all returned with an air of confidence in their characters which is vital to the slightly heavier story.”
“Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint are now forever etched in people’s minds as the three protagonists of Harry Potter lore. I really don’t understand why some of them have recently stated that they don’t really want to continue the roles after the third film (Prisoner of Azkaban). In any case, they are simply wonderful.”
“Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione are perfectly precocious in both their bravery and fear. [...] All the kids get more screen time in Chamber and all have grown in poise.”
“It’s safe to say that the three young actors who play the trio of wizards have improved their acting. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson weren’t dreadful in the first film, but their performances were adequate at best. Now, they are completely convincing. [...] Grint’s performance is likewise more compelling in Chamber.”
“On the performance side, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint are (once again) bloody brilliant as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.”
“The leading trio – Potter, Hermione and Ron – advance wisely towards adolescence, and the actors (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint) have gained confidence.”
Voir (in French – transl. by Ivana)
“Radcliffe, as well as Thompson*, Grint and Felton have grown older and taller, and their performances are consequently more natural and solid than in the first movie.”
*this is a typo – they meant Watson!
Moviola (in Spanish – transl. by Himera)
“Grint remains a likeable Ron.”
“”Ron Weasley and the Chamber of Secrets”? Even better — “Hermione Granger and the Chamber of Secrets”? Ah, well. It’s hard to be wild about Harry, but we’re stuck with him, even if he is, was and ever shall be the least exciting thing about the Harry Potter movies. [...] “Chamber of Secrets” finds its charm in Harry’s pals — Hermione (Emma Watson), the plucky spell-casting prodigy, and Ron (Rupert Grint), the kid with red hair and a thing for Hermione. Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry is more of a hub around which things revolve…”
“Reprising their roles, Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson are able to once again find that camaraderie that is essential to their characters, with Grint stealing the show with his facial expressions and mannerisms.”
“After narrowly escaping with earnest friend Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint, great fun again) in Ron’s dad’s flying, turquoise Ford Anglia, Harry’s adventure begins.”
“Enter Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) to rescue Harry in a flying Ford Anglia, resulting in an enchanting, innocence-soaked sequence that could have come from the camera of Frank Capra.”
“Rupert Grint, who plays Harry’s best pal Ron Weasley, also had a growth spurt between films, but he remains the everykid who grounds the story in earthy good humor.”
Rotten Tomatoes UK (Jeffrey Westhoff)
“Once on campus, Harry and his Gryffindor cohorts, Ron (the endearing Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), become entangled in a spooky mystery.”
“As sophomores, Radcliffe, Grint and Watson are more relaxed and assured. Their on-screen chemistry feels real and honest.”
“The natural rapport of the young actors Radcliffe, Grint and Watson comes shining through as the trio become more comfortable walking around in their characters’ shoes.”
“Daniel Radcliffe isn’t quite as good as he would become in later films, but he gets the job done quite well, and Rupert Grint often steals the show as Ron.”
“But it is Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley who’s the scene stealer this time around. He is an excellent comic foil to Hermione’s diligence – always capped off by a face loaded with expression.
Watch out for Ron and the spiders, Ron and the slugs, Ron and the owl, Ron and the wand, Ron and the… well, you get the idea.”
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