Jesse Peretz was criticized for his direction by many critics. Phoebe Flowers of the "South Florida Sun-Sentinel" said the film was "directed with a breathtaking lack of instinct by Jesse Peretz." A few critics described the film as half-baked. Sean Means of "The Salt Lake Tribune" said "It's like undercooked lasagna: lots of layers, but the flavors never blend." Bill Muller of "The Arizona Republic" said the film was Zach Braff's most average movie so far. Steven Rea of "The Philadelphia Inquirer" said that after "The Last Kiss" and "Garden State", "Braff's shtick...is getting tired." Desson Thomson of "The Washington Post" said the film "marks an all-time low for actor Zach Braff -- his "Gigli", if you will.."