Most critics respond warmly to My Man Godfrey, with praise clustering around its performances, sharp writing and mixture of screwball romance and social commentary. The reviews repeatedly credit La Cava’s direction with keeping the comedy lively. Carole Lombard and William Powell receive particular praise for their performances, while Variety singles out Alice Brady and Mischa Auer for their sustained comic work. The prevailing view is that the film remains funny while giving its class divisions some weight.
The reservations concern how far the farce goes and how deeply the satire cuts. Radio Times finds the family’s antics strain credibility, whereas Variety regards the absurdity as well judged. The AV Club considers the satire broad rather than incisive; Slant Magazine finds a sharper class critique. The verifiable responses occupy a fairly narrow, favourable range, though the inaccessible New York Times text prevents a reliable account of its reservations.