An all-star cast, including Dustin Hoffman, Ellen Barkin and Steve Buscemi, haven't saved the film from savage reviews. Bilge Ebiri wrote in his Vulture review: “Maybe The Cobbler was supposed to be something more dramatic and emotional but wound up getting neutered when a top-flight comedian became involved. Who knows? Besides, it's not for us to figure out the details of where this production went wrong. All we can do is watch the finished film, marvel at the wreckage, and lament the talent involved.” The review was headlined "The Cobbler Is Terrible, Even for an Adam Sandler Movie."