: Roger Ebert noted the movie is "old-fashioned in a lot of the right ways," highlighting the sincere relationship between the protagonist, Matt, and his stepmother.
: Critics from Variety and IMDb reviewers alike praised Thomas Guiry for his authentic portrayal of Matt, a city kid struggling to adjust to rural life. Lassie (1994)
“The funny thing is, the movie sort of grew on me... there's good feeling in this movie, and an especially heartfelt relationship grows slowly between Matt and his stepmother.” Roger Ebert : Roger Ebert noted the movie is "old-fashioned