The movie is an assembly of cliches and obligatory scenes from dozens of other movies, all its better.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
1 Jan 2000
rotten:
As a sketch for a Saturday Night Live show, it would have been a tour de force. But as part of this rather unimaginative movie, it's just a bit with a burning desk.
– Desson Thomson,
Washington Post,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
Tommy Boy is a good belly laugh of a movie.
– Kevin Thomas,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Feb 2001
rotten:
The most peculiar aspect of the movie is that some of it is played straight.