 Roger <unk> gave the film three and a half stars out of four , calling it " well @-@ cast " and commending it for playing to each actor 's strengths . <unk> gave particular praise to Spacey , labeling him " superb " , and Aniston , <unk> her performance to be a " surprise " and a return to form , stating " she has acute comic timing and <unk> <unk> <unk> sexual <unk> " . <unk> called <unk> <unk> " cheerful and wicked " . Lisa <unk> of Entertainment Weekly reacted positively , calling the film " a <unk> , well @-@ built , <unk> nasty tale of resentment , <unk> , and <unk> revenge " and complimented the casting of the protagonists and antagonists . The A.V. Club 's Nathan <unk> also praised the cast , stating that the picture " succeeds almost entirely on the chemistry of its three leads , who remain likeable even while <unk> to <unk> " , adding the " acting more than <unk> for the film 's other failings . " <unk> singled out Day 's performance as " a potent illustration of how a brilliant character actor with a spark of madness can elevate a <unk> <unk> farce into a solid mainstream comedy through sheer force of <unk> . " Edward Douglas of <unk> credited director Seth Gordon with having assembled " the perfect cast " , claiming " the six leads kill in every scene " , but echoed Nathan <unk> 's sentiments that Day is the " real standout " . Douglas summarized the picture as " dark fun that works better than expected due to a well @-@ developed script , an <unk> cast and a director who knows how to put the two together " . A. O. Scott of The New York Times stated " the timing of the cast ... is <unk> " and appreciated that the script did not attempt " to cut its <unk> with a <unk> dose of <unk> or respectability " . The review concluded that " in the ways that count and even when it shouldn ’ t , <unk> <unk> works . " 
