The Los Angeles Times wrote that Pryor's performance "is as good as anything he's done in a non-concert movie" but "it still somehow misfires". The South Florida Sun-Sentinel called it a "misguided semicomedy" and wrote, "Judging from this lamebrained film, Richard Pryor's crown as a screen comedy king is slipping off his head."
The Los Angeles Times praised Pryor's performance as "as good as anything he's done in a non-concert movie," but noted it "still somehow falls short." The South Florida Sun-Sentinel called it a "misguided semi-comedy" and observed, "Based on this lackluster film, Richard Pryor's status as a screen comedy king is waning."