Critic Roger Ebert gave the film three stars, comparing the movie to a summertime version of "A Christmas Story", based on the tone and narration of both films: "There was a moment in the film when Rodriguez hit a line drive directly at the pitcher's mound, and I ducked and held up my mitt, and then I realized I didn't have a mitt, and it was then I also realized how completely this movie had seduced me with its memories of what really matters when you are 12." Bob Cannon of "Entertainment Weekly" gave the film a B+, praising its simplicity and strong fundamentals.