 Based on 43 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh" has an overall approval rating from critics of 12% with an average score of 3.9/10.CBC News gave the movie and Thurber a damning review.They felt Thurber was "out of his depth" with the Chabon novel, and were amazed that "Like some act of reverse alchemy, Thurber has taken movie-friendly gold and turned it into dull metal."