Film critic Bosley Crowther of The New York Times greatly enjoyed the movie, calling it "The broadest and funniest farce to come out of Hollywood since the Russians came last year...who would imagine that a film pretending to be a how-to on infidelity would be funny or even in good taste?" and adding "what is thoroughly and delightfully disarming about this mischievous film is the impudent candor of it and its freedom from the leer." The staff at Variety wrote in their review: "Walter Matthau plays a married innocent, eager to stray under the tutelage of friend and neighbor Robert Morse.
Film critic Bosley Crowther of The New York Times greatly appreciated the movie, describing it as "The most expansive and hilarious comedy since the Russians visited last year...who would have thought that a film pretending to be an instruction on betrayal could be funny or even tasteful?" and noting "what is genuinely and delightfully refreshing about this cheeky film is its bold honesty and lack of leering." The staff at Variety wrote in their review: "Walter Matthau portrays a married man, eager to cheat under the guidance of his friend and neighbor Robert Morse."