Most critics greet The Young Girls of Rochefort warmly, with praise clustering around its colour, music and ease of movement. The reviews admire the pastel atmosphere and sunny, open-air production design, while Michel Legrand’s songs earn praise for their sweetness without becoming sugary. Several critics find its romantic escapism persuasive, and the musical numbers draw particular appreciation for growing naturally out of dialogue and bringing the townspeople into the action.
The spread runs from wholehearted enthusiasm to qualified pleasure, with one mixed assessment and no outright rejection. Radio Times supplies the clearest dissent: it enjoys the songs and spirited performances but finds the choreography disappointing after the opening number, leaving the film short of fully enchanting. That puts it at odds with reviews praising the dancing’s grace, while another reading notices desperation and militarism beneath the cheerful surface.