vɚɹˈaɪəɾi fˈɔltᵻd ðə fˈɪlm fɔːɹ "ɪlˈɑːdʒɪkəl plˈɑːɾɪŋ" ænd ɐ tˈuːlˈɔŋ ɹˈʌnɪŋ tˈaɪm ðˈæt "ɐlˈaʊz fɔːɹ sˌʌm tˈiːdiəm," bˌʌt pɹˈeɪzd "ɐ kˌæɹɪsmˈæɾɪk dᵻmˈɛnʃən tə wˈɪljəmz lˈiːdɪŋ pɚfˈoːɹməns, sˌʌm tˈɔːtli ˈɛdɪɾᵻd ænd dɹəmˈæɾɪkli fˈoʊɾəɡɹˌæft ˈækʃən sˈɛtpiːsᵻz ænd sˌʌm nˈɪfti kˈɑːmɪk bˈɪznəs dˈɛftli hˈændəld baɪ fjˈʊɹɹi," æz wˈɛl ˈeɪ "kənsˈɪstəntli ˈɛksələnt səpˈoːɹɾɪŋ kˈæst."
Variety faulted the film for "illogical plotting" and a too-long running time that "allows for some tedium," but praised "a charismatic dimension to Williams' leading performance, some tautly edited and dramatically photographed action setpieces and some nifty comic business deftly handled by Furie," as well a "consistently excellent supporting cast."