Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes
Vincent Canby, New York Times: It's as honest and direct and entertaining as the considerable talents of everyone involved can make it. Read more
Stephen Garrett, Time Out: The ending, despite good intentions, is American cinema at its tackiest and most hollow. Read more
Variety Staff, Variety: The elements are in place but they don't add up to great drama in this well-meant effort to personalize the plight of illiterate people. Read more
Desson Thomson, Washington Post: McAlpine may be the movie's smartest contributor. He alone seems to realize that this pedantic project will soon be graduating into home-video or classroom use. Read more
Rita Kempley, Washington Post: Here, in a movie less animated than a barrel of tree sloths, Ritt encourages stale performances and a pace as dull as more tree sloths. Read more