Charles Soloman, a critic for the "Los Angeles Times" disliked the film's writing, reasoning that it was filled with plot holes, forced "fun" elements, and rejection of the source material's "powerful message about the importance of self-knowledge." He also criticized its cheap-looking special effects: "The Grand Duke’s magic breath sprays twinkling stars and crescent moons that look like the glitter sold by the scoop in card shops. The matte lines are clearly visible in the final live-action/animation scenes, and a weird glow suffuses the entire sequence, as if it had been shot at Chernobyl." "Entertainment Weekly" panned "Rock-a-Doodle"'s "limp rock homages," forgettable song, "washed-out" colors, and the "cheap" look of the live-actions sequences.