Kristi Matsuda of
LA Weekly wrote that while the script "sometimes slips into sentimentality and entertains the odd delusion of grandeur", the film "mostly presents a spare, refreshingly clear-eyed depiction of a deadbeat’s downward spiral." Mark Keizer of
Boxoffice Pro rated the film 3 stars out of 5 and wrote that while Reynolds "adds little to the conversation", his "close-to-the-bone rendering still draws you in, proving once again that movies begin and end with characters you care about." Brad Wilke of
Film Threat wrote that while the film "does a pretty good job of telling its story", it is "a shame that we’ve seen it all before." Gary Goldstein of the
Los Angeles Times wrote that while Reynolds "deserves credit for his confident, singular approach", his emphasis on "“performance over perfection in image” nets mixed results." Robert Koehler of
Variety wrote that the film "struggles to make a downhill life seem something more than just inevitable." ==References==