The video received mixed reviews by critics . Robbie Daw of Idolator complemented the video by saying that the " standout track from Doo-Wops & Hooligans , and it ’s given an extra sheen thanks to a quirky , unconventional video that does n’t shy away from the dark tone of the song ’s lyrics " . Brian Zacher from AXS.com said that the video shares the " greatness " with the previous one , " Just the Way You Are " . James Montgomery of MTV News gave a mixed review on the video , in which he said " after all , it would ’ve been easy — and expected — to make something slick , sexy and/or saccharine , a glossy thing where he croons from a rooftop somewhere , removes his shirt , and somehow ends up with the girl . None of that happens here . Rather , we see Mars struggling and sweating , being taunted and tempted , falling and rising again ... He ends up alone , unloved . He probably gets flattened by a train " . On another review by Montgomery , the singer redemption is referred because Mars " distances himself from his smoove-crooning contemporaries , and he does it simply by being real . Really dramatic , really emotional , really clever . This one ’s a winner , even if , at the end of it , Mars has lost everything . " The video itself earned Mars three nominations at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards , in Best Male Video , Best Pop Video and Video of the Year . The video was also one of the most seen online in the United Kingdom , in 2011 . Mark Graham for VH1 ranked the video as the second best of 2011 , the top spot went for " Rolling in the Deep " by Adele
2011 MTV Video Music Awards
2011 MTV Video Music Awards
Grenade (song)