"Less a jaunty excursion than an unvarnished ego trip, the show is a slog through cringe-inducing skits and only occasionally engaging anecdotes...Much of 'The Terms of My Surrender' lurches from topic to topic in this manner, with Moore seated in an easy chair or hovering over a desk, uncertainly reaching into memory for his next line...'The Terms of My Surrender' doesn’t have much of a game plan. That goes as much for its theatrical goals as its political ones."
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"The lesson he wants us to take home is a noble one...But these plucky narratives, largely recycled from his writings and talks, have the monotonous ring of an infomercial for his brand. I have no political beef with Moore...But I found myself cringing at the self-congratulatory applause that would break out when he would utter one of his pieties...'Surrender' would be less objectionable if he were driving around the country in a bus and delivering these monologues...for $10 a head."
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"It can’t be denied that Michael Moore is preaching to the choir by presenting his new one-man show, 'The Terms of My Surrender,' on Broadway...But is that such a bad thing? After all, this is supposed to be a Broadway show, not a political rally...The show is a fun and freewheeling night of theater for Moore’s fans and anyone else who wants to attend."
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"No matter your political persuasion, there's no denying that the guy can hold a stage. It's two intermission-less hours consisting, predictably, of Trump-bashing, but there's lots of amusing biographical anecdotes as well. Some of them are extremely moving, while others are insightful, and all of them are delivered by a masterful storyteller who manages to entertain and instruct simultaneously...He hit the target with this one, even if he is preaching to the choir."
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"A disappointingly inoffensive summer solo show...Director Mayer seems to have left Moore to his shtick, even when it feels painfully under-rehearsed...The autobiographical portion of the show is the most effective...These segments may resemble a self-serving memoir recited live onstage, but it's a great read. Still, if the lesson of Moore's life is to take risks and speak truth to power, he doesn't apply it to this endeavor...Delivers liberal catnip to an audience eager to wallow in it."
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"A free-form, ripped-from-the-headlines affair, marked by a wild, anything-goes vibe...Moore is an adept stand-up comic....He wisecracks with élan...earning his fair share of laughs...Moore was smart enough to sign up a team of theatrical professionals for his Broadway debut, which has a pleasing slickness...All of this is orchestrated with admirable skill by the director Michael Mayer; however, he would do well to trim about ten minutes from the running time."
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"'Surrender' has been dismissed by some as an example of 'preaching to the converted'...I for one welcome Moore to the historic Belasco Theatre...'Surrender' has its share of laughs...Still...comedy is not the main goal of this endeavor. Highly unnerving are Moore's stories of the many death threats and attacks he has suffered...Most unnerving, amazing, and heartbreaking of all is his detailed account of how the people in his hometown of Flint were denied drinkable tap water."
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“A loose-jointed and agreeable tour through his career...‘The Terms of My Surrender’ keeps returning to a basic but powerful point: Nothing will change unless you do something. To illustrate this truth, Moore uses himself as an example – yes, that involves some back-patting, but in a charming, self-deprecating way...Judged as theater – political or otherwise – ‘The Terms of My Surrender’ is not high on drama or surprises, but it’s a genial, valedictory piece of civic service.”
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