The practice and performance sequences are compelling, but the history of the dance style, the intricacies of judging and the personalities of the hoofers are hardly addressed.
- Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune, August 25, 2011
It's not the best movie you'll ever see, but as movies about Irish dance competitions go, well, it's pretty high on that list.
- Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic, August 04, 2011
Uncovers the sweat and toil behind all the sparkly outfits and clickety-clack footwork.
- Adam Markovitz, Entertainment Weekly, June 22, 2011
Bourne shows little knowledge or curiosity about her subject and doesn't find its magic in this pedestrian documentary.
- Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail, June 17, 2011
Bourne belabors the judges' final decision to such an excruciating length, it makes the whole movie feel a bit more cloddish than it should.
- Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News, June 17, 2011
Too close to a TV dance competition show to go far in theaters.
- Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter, June 17, 2011
Jig is both inspiring and a cautionary tale about obsession among youngsters.
- Linda Barnard, Toronto Star, June 17, 2011
Smallpox has been eliminated from the planet -- so why can't our finest minds seem to be able to do anything about Irish step dancing?
- Kyle Smith, New York Post, June 17, 2011
This highly involving film deftly captures the unique physical, emotional and financial aspects of diving into competitive Irish dance, with the participants' addictive immersion the overwhelming takeaway.
- Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, June 16, 2011
This programmatic entry in the tykes-and-trophies genre has too much on its plate and not nearly enough on its mind.
- Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, June 16, 2011
"Jig'' is involving, if at times overly slick.
- Mark Feeney, Boston Globe, June 16, 2011
If the structure behind Jig seems familiar, it is. That's because Sue Bourne's film employs the same formula as nearly every entry in an increasingly prevalent documentary subgenre devoted to chronicling specialized competitions.
- Andrew Schenker, Village Voice, June 14, 2011
There are too many personal stories and themes (rivalry, triumph over adversity, the nobility of sportsmanlike determination...) slugging it out here.
- Leslie Felperin, Variety, May 10, 2011
To kick Sue Bourne's documentary about the 40th Irish Dancing World Championships feels both mean and ill-advised - these people sure know how to use their tootsies.
- Catherine Shoard, Guardian [UK], May 05, 2011
A toe-tapping triumph for dance fans, though less so for non-converts.
- Anna Smith, Empire Magazine, May 03, 2011
- Dave Calhoun, Time Out, January 22, 2013
Must every subculture competition receive a pop documentary?
- Nick Schager, Time Out New York, June 15, 2011
The documentary Jig presents a world that approaches child pageantry in its self-contained weirdness.
- Paul Schrodt, Slant Magazine, June 15, 2011
In truth, there's something faintly disturbing in the Little Miss Sunshine sparkle of fake tans, frozen smiles and diamante-studded outfits - it's like a convention of pubertal Liberace impersonators.
- Anthony Quinn, Independent, May 06, 2011
Few would imagine a film shadowing a little known Irish dance competition could hook you in to relate to the dancers themselves. Jig offers itself as an eye opener to the dedication of all those involved in the fight for a first place.
- Giles Bidder, Little White Lies, May 05, 2011
