Roger Ebert, in his review for the "Chicago Sun-Times", described the film as "a mediocre movie with a good one trapped inside, wildly signaling to be set free." He rated it two and a half stars out of four. "Rolling Stone" magazine's Peter Travers felt that "Juggling mirth, romance and murder requires a deft touch - think of Hitchcock's "Trouble with Harry". "Axe" is a blunt instrument." "Entertainment Weekly"'s reviewer gave the film a "C-" and said, "In some perverse way, "So I Married an Axe Murderer" seems to be asking us to laugh at how not-funny it is."