One Australian radio reviewer said: "This weekend, millions of people around the globe will be conned into handing over their hard earned cash to see a film with no plot, no action and no climax."
And while there have been few print reviews so far, the Washington Post's Mark Jenkins says it has "regressed ... delivering more filler, less feeling and crummier CGI than last year's Eclipse".
New York Daily News reviewer Elizabeth Weitzman said: "To outsiders, in fact, Breaking Dawn: Part I will probably look like the weirdest, most expensive chastity commercial ever created."
Stephen Whitty from the Newark Star-Ledger said the film did deliver some good news.
"Now that all of the tedious exposition has been gotten, glacially, out of the way, Part II will probably be terrific."
Contra Costa Times reviewer Randy Myers summed it best when he said: "t gives fans exactly what they want."
But AAP reported that even fans who had seen the film were split on its merits.
Eighteen-year-old Jessica liked the film, but said "it was a bit mushy" in parts.
"It was kind of corny ... but the end bit was done well, it was intense and stuff," she said.
Jordana, 14, was not impressed however.
"It was horrible. It was like half the movie was just really dramatic music and really dramatic shots, and it led to nothing," she said.
Breaking Dawn Part 2 will be released on November 16, 2012.
Check out the trailer for Breaking Dawn Part 1:
- Herald online