"The New York Times" editor Janet Maslin praised Shakur's performance: "He played this part with an appealing mix of presence, confidence and humor". Desson Howe, for the "Washington Post", wrote, "Shakur and Roth, who seem born for these roles, are allowed to take charge – and have fun doing it". "USA Today" gave the film three out of four stars and felt that Hall had not "latched onto a particularly original notion of city blight. But he knows how to mine the humor in such desperation".