Director Gillian Armstrong is more attentive to decor than the story, which never seems in a hurry to get anyplace in particular and concludes with a thud.
– Kyle Smith,
New York Post,
11 Jul 2008
fresh:
All a 'what if' movie needs to win me over are some lush costumes and production design, a smart casting choice or two, and a really ridiculous basic idea. Death Defying Acts obliges on all fronts.
– Dana Stevens,
Slate,
11 Jul 2008
fresh:
What the film loses in momentum as the romance takes over, it gains in sex appeal as its two attractive actors make their own kind of magic.
– Gary Goldstein,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jul 2008
rotten:
Pearce's boys-adventure take on the vaudeville legend is a hoot, though not nearly as laughable as the dialogue or Zeta-Jones's pitiful attempts at basic emoting.
– David Fear,
Time Out New York,
16 Jul 2008
rotten:
All in all, it's a bit of a snore that falls back on romance when all else fails.