Most critics favour The Band Wagon, with praise concentrated on Minnelli’s direction, the staging and the dancing of Astaire and Charisse. The enthusiastic reviews admire how carefully the musical’s elements fit together, from its backstage comedy to its production design. The “Girl Hunt” ballet draws particular attention, while Astaire’s technical skill earns approval even from critics less persuaded by the film around him. Buchanan’s comedy also receives praise.
The spread is wide, however, and the reservations centre on the story. Slant Magazine finds it thin and the romance short of chemistry, despite admiring the performances and individual numbers. The Los Angeles Times is more dismissive, judging the film overrated and its plot creaky, while still enjoying several Astaire routines. These objections concern the connective scenes more than the dancing. Two reviews have inaccessible text, so their specific reasoning cannot be established.