Mark Olsen of the Los Angeles Times stated: "Unbalanced storytelling aside, Ozeki wisely works to keep the film focused on his actors, a smart move considering their live-wire charm." John Hazelton of Screen International called the film "likeable if rambling" and praised the "very natural" and "quite touching" performances of Bonilla and Diaz Carranza. Robert Koehler of Variety wrote: "Every bit as cliched as it sounds, pic offers a dramatically crude, overly familiar take on the bad-boy-turned-good story."
