Lawrence Van Gelder of The New York Times wrote that while Efteriades "may not have generated many sparks", with his "affection for Astoria and its people", he has "given his tale a warm glow".[4] Gene Seymour of Newsday rated the film 3 stars out of 5 and wrote that while "the verbiage grows quite thick in patches" and "the story itself is fairly predictable", there are "intriguing variations of light and shadow that, while not exactly freshening the coming-of-age conventions, add deft touches of polish and grit."[5]
Maitland McDonagh of TV Guide rated the film 2.5 stars out of 5 and wrote that while the film is "efficiently directed and acted", it is a "very familiar tale", and "it's hard to feel its pull".[6]Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote that the film "lacks the originality and vitality required of an indie to make it in the real world."[7]
