Critical Reception
Upon initial release, the film received near unanimous praise from major trades and newspapers. Stephen Holden (The New York Times) said, "With his self-deflating cool and amused insight into the shallowness of the buppie world in which he drifts, Lee is one of the most original and likable characters to pop up in a movie in quite a while." Emanuel Levy (Variety) said, "Christopher Scott Cherot makes a splashy debut as writer, director, editor and star of this fresh, bittersweet, modern-day love story that recalls the early work of Woody Allen." Duane Byrge of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Screenwriter-director Cherot has dished up a dicey, romantic riposte, stuffing it with the real makings of romantic comedy: individual insecurities, desires and fears." Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) wrote: " may be new to the movie game, but he announces himself with such confidence and force of personality, you know a noteworthy talent has arrived." Kevin Thomas at The Los Angeles Times observed, "The pleasure in watching Hav Plenty comes from seeing Cherot discover the possibilities of the medium as he goes along... As it unfolds, repartee gives way to an increasing sense of the visual, and by the time the film is over, Cherot has discovered how potent can be in repose..". The San Francisco Chronicle remarked, "Hav Plenty harks back to a different temperament with considerable charm." With the exception of Roger Ebert, nearly all major reviewers were particularly impressed with Cherot’s absurdist, witty writing and personable, on-screen charisma; Entertainment Weekly included Cherot on its year-end "It-List".
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