Three stories happening in New York. The first, by Scorsese, is about a painter who creates his works helped by high volume music and an attractive assistant; second, by Coppola, is about a rich and bold 12 years old who helps her separated parents to reconciliate; third, by Allen, is a witty piece of comedy about the impossibility of getting rid of the son's role.
New York Stories consists of three films, one good, one bad, one disappointing.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
1 Jan 2000
rotten:
Allen's contribution is the only one that can be counted as a genuine success.
– Hal Hinson,
Washington Post,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
It's still too early to tell whether the cheering New York Stories will be a box-office hit, but one can hope.
– Vincent Canby,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
rotten:
Only Woody Allen seems to have understood what is possible in a featurette.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
26 Jan 2006
fresh:
Whether it happened by chance or design, the sketches have more than just New York in common: all three have something to do with middle age, as well as with romantic relationships.