On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 54%, based on reviews from 74 critics, with an average score of 5.7 out of 10. The site's consensus reads: "While it may not add up to the definitive Paul Raymond biopic -- or take full advantage of Steve Coogan's many gifts -- The Look of Love still proves an entertainingly old fashioned look at the Swinging London of the 1960s." On Metacritic, it has a score of 57 out of 100, based on reviews from 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
