Australia's "The Film Pie" reviews "Super 8"

From The Film Pie:

Despite having no previous acting experience, Joel Courtney is wonderful as the film’s central character, Joe Lamb. He starts out as a shy, reserved kid trying to cope with the death of his mother. As the story develops, Joe will be forced to “come out of his shell”, confront an unbelievable situation and fight for the people he loves. The list includes the pretty Alice Daniard (Fanning), his long-term crush from school. The scenes shared by these two are adorable.

Joel Courtney
Abrams, Spielberg Make ‘Super 8′ Great

Here's a review from Pictainment:

If you’re looking for a summer film that captures the magic of filmmaking at its essence, then check out Super 8. Produced by Steven Spielberg and directed J.J. Abrams, Super 8 makes you feel genuinely feel like it’s 1979 all over again, and it feels pretty cool.

Some might say that Super 8 is Stand By Me meets District 9. Others might say it’s E.T. meets Cloverfield. There are other times when you might think you’re watching Goonies, Flight of the Navigator, or some other film from that time period. But regardless, Super 8 is a welcome entry to genre of 1970s or 80s movie where a group of young boys are involved in a major life-altering event and have a much clearer picture of what’s going on than the adults around them.

...

Starring in his first ever movie, Courtney brings an innocence and humility to his character that makes him immensely likable. While he’s still very young, this debut performance marks an auspicious beginning to his career.

Joel Courtney
Associated Press Reviews "Super 8"

From the Associated Press:

"Super 8" is the rarest of things this time of year: a summer blockbuster that's completely earnest and irony-free, not filled with cheeky pop-culture references or cheesy product placement. The effects, while spectacular, also happen to be germane to the plot, and they have an intimate, tactile quality, rather than seeming too glossy or removed from reality. (And they're NOT in 3-D. Yes, it is indeed possible.)

So all you're left with is ... story. And strong performances. And well-developed characters. And a believable emotional arc. And genuine thrills.

...

The kids at the centre of this sci-fi thriller, many of whom had never appeared in a feature film before, are total naturals and bounce off each other with effortless, goofy humour. And lookie here: The boy who's the film's freshly scrubbed and hugely likable star, Joel Courtney, bears more than a slight resemblance to an "E.T."-era Henry Thomas.

Joel Courtney