Reception depended on the film medium: the animated parts of "Osmosis Jones" received overwhelmingly positive reviews for the plot and fast pace in contrast to the live-action segments, where critical reception was mixed to negative. Robert Koehler of "Variety" praised the film for its animated and live-action segments intervening, claiming it to be "the most extensive interplay of live-action and animation since "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"". "The New York Times" wrote "the film, with its effluvia-festival brand of humor, is often fun, and the rounded, blobby rendering of the characters is likable. But the picture tries too hard to be offensive to all ages. I suspect that even the littlest viewers will be too old for that spit." Roger Ebert gave the film 3 stars out of 4.