Most critics respond warmly to Memories of Underdevelopment, with praise clustering around its blend of fiction, still photography and documentary footage. The reviews find this approach politically complex, conveying post-revolutionary Havana without reducing it to propaganda or an uncomplicated account of revolutionary progress. Sergio Corrieri’s performance also draws admiration: his charm and emotional and intellectual paralysis give critics a compelling way into the film’s treatment of a man at odds with the history around him.
The reservations concern the demands the film makes and the distance it keeps from its protagonist. Empire finds it challenging but worth the attention, while The Hollywood Reporter notes that Sergio earns interest more readily than sympathy. The verifiable responses range from measured approval to strong enthusiasm, rather than sharp disagreement. Two entries lack sufficient accessible review text to establish their verdicts, so they offer no reliable evidence of a dissenting argument.