But then disaster movie warps into schmaltzy romance, an odd misfire that ends up being inadvertently hilarious (especially the wacky, wish fulfilment ending). (theguardian.com)
It zigs from the high - octane action of the speedways, to maudlin moments with schmaltzy speeches, to whimsical slapstick and an abundance of «ha ha you're old» gags at Lightning's expense. (cbr.com)
There's also not a single weak link in the all - star cast (including youngster Dev Patel), and though the film could have easily come across as being too schmaltzy in the hands of another director, John Madden strikes the right balance between comedy and sentimentality. (blog.bullz-eye.com)