The film received several negative critical reviews. The review aggregator website
Rotten Tomatoes has no score for critics, but a 45% approval rating for audiences based on 712 reviews. On
Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 30 out of 100 based on four critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.
The New York Times believed the film did not go beyond the cliché of movies about athletes, believing these types of films follow an obligatory formula. When the formula does not work, the film then "looks just plain silly", which
The New York Times believed was the case with this film. In the eyes of that publication, the film lacked excitement and the performances were no more exciting than the script.
The Montreal Gazette's review of the production was also quite negative. To this critic, the subject of the film is particularly unpromising, believing that most people would not enjoy "the story of a boy who was better than anybody else at pulling two sticks through the water". The script was also harshly criticized, stating that it is hard to tell whether some actors are not doing a good job, or if it is just the script not allowing them to.
The Globe and Mail also give a harsh review, believing that the film's major purpose is proving a showcase for an American actor's (Nicolas Cage) chest.
The Globe and Mail critic had an issue with the casting of Nicolas Cage, as he is an American actor who makes no effort to Canadianize himself; the role could have potentially made a Canadian a star. The supporting performances were also seen as terrible, which were blamed on the director, Charles Jarrott.
Pierre Mignot's photography was one of the scarce positives to an otherwise negatively-reviewed film. ==Awards and nominations==