The Reception
Metascore
64 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
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  1. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Chuck Wilson
    80
    It's fine stuff, beautifully played, but there's no denying that viewers will have to be patient with this 80-minute chamber piece, the first third of which feels cold and false, only to suddenly shift into unexpectedly deep emotional territory.
  2. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Mark Holcomb
    70
    A fresh and uncompromising account of emotional self-immolation and romantic flux. And it has a happy ending to boot.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Van Gelder
    70
    It's an intimate chamber piece, dialogue-heavy and at times claustrophobic, but the four central characters are so deftly sketched, and their shifting alliances so intricately choreographed, that the film never feels talky or staged. The actors are consistently excellent.
  4. Variety
    Reviewed by: Ronnie Scheib
    70
    Superb emotional thesping complements script's measured restraint.
  5. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    63
    Clever, racially and sexually provocative variation on "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
  6. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    60
    Their subtle, complex performances could put far more experienced and better-known actors to shame.
  7. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Frank Scheck
    50
    Although The Reception boasts some moments of emotional truth, its small scale and claustrophobic atmosphere make it a tough sit despite its brief time.
  8. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jami Bernard
    50
    Well-acted but otherwise lackluster drama.

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