The reviews lean positive on Ruthless People, with praise clustering around its farcical plotting and the performances of Danny DeVito and Bette Midler. Critics repeatedly find the scheming funny, the complications cleverly arranged and the comic writing sharp. Midler’s energy draws particular attention, while the central couple’s mismatched temperaments give the comedy much of its appeal. There is also praise for the directors’ visual comic energy, alongside the writing and performances.
The clearest reservation comes from the Los Angeles Times, which finds the ending formulaic and unconvincing despite admiring much of the execution. The recorded scores fall within a fairly narrow range, with no outright negative notices. That apparent agreement needs a qualification: three of the seven entries lack accessible verdicts, so their reservations cannot be identified. The available text supports a positive consensus more firmly than it explains the mixed scores.