Instructions Not Included Reviews
Paste Magazine
Derbez, a sharp comedic actor with an emotive face, ably shoulders most of the film's emotional burden.
Full Review
| Original Score: 6.7/10
Common Sense Media
Mix of comedy and tragedy in Mexican dad-daughter tale.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
Austin Chronicle
Charming and entertaining, if overlong and a bit too melodramatic, Instructions ultimately works because of the cast.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/5
Screen It!
'Instructions Not Included' is definitely not light on its feet. But despite its flaws, it's effective in the end. (Full Parental Review also available)
Fresno Bee
Derbez, who also directed the film, gives the movie a strong core through his expressive face.
Full Review
| Original Score: B+
Top CriticThe film's counterintuitive success is largely due to Derbez, who demonstrates why he is beloved, both south and north of the border.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/4
There's a lot of movie here with unexpected developments, held together by the irresistible chemistry between Derbez and his adorable pint-sized co-star.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3.5/5
"Instructions Not Included" is a sweet little movie that is more than it seems to be.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3.5/5
Film Racket
It's not a great film, but for what it wants to do, it's a decent diversion.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
Antagony & Ecstasy
Unevenly handled, slurrying emotions in a way that feels careless rather than cleverly unconventional.
Full Review
| Original Score: 6/10
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Overlong, overly broad and overly familiar. But not without its charms
Full Review
| Original Score: 2/4
Sacramento News & Review
A sloppy melange of unpersuasive melodrama, amateurish mugging, unfunny comedy and mawkish sentimentality.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2/5
This sporadically amusing but unduly protracted dramedy devolves into a shameless tearjerker in its third act.
Cinemalogue.com
It doesn't transition smoothly between comedy and drama, and the constant mugging of Derbez becomes as tiresome as his character's lack of common sense.
RedEye
Alternately and creepily plays toward young children and horny adults.
Full Review
| Original Score: 1/4
