Metacritic reviews

It is irresistibly laugh-out-loud and feel-good.

Lovely to look at, charmingly played throughout, and with a sense of fun that is more playful than subversive, The Brand New Testament is a bouncy treat: not so much heresy as whimsy, with a smooth matte finish and a mischievous grin.

What we have is ultimately a welcome satire for the modern age that’s no less funny than it is intelligent.

The Brand New Testament is a peppy, original and (importantly) very sweet story.

With the consistently playful, often delightful and frequently funny God fantasy The Brand New Testament, the Belgian auteur delivers his most substantially enjoyable film since 1991’s Toto The Hero.

This is a film with a big heart and an even bigger imagination.

While the ultra-clever first act stockpiles sufficient admiration from audiences to sustain the film, the bulk of The Brand New Testament concerns itself with Van Dormael’s most persistent preoccupation: the tug-of-war between fate and free will.

Striking a balance between the dark and combative religious humour and its more saccharine elements proves difficult.

Testament is full of bad jokes (like a man repeatedly throwing himself from great heights to prove he won't die) and, in spite of Groyne's grave, determined presence as Ea, is borderline offensive.

At first, the film’s dark humor is amusing, only for it to wear off once an actual plot kicks into motion.