From its Venice premiere, the film was met with a polarized response. The central plot of open, guilt-free partner-swapping between two "normal" couples was seen as audacious by some and overly simplistic by others. The Hollywood Reporter's review called it "a story that takes itself far too seriously to be taken seriously by an audience". On the other hand, some audiences appreciated its direct exploration of modern polyamory. The controversy was so pronounced that the film was protested upon its initial release, with critics accusing it of being a "bad idea" for its subject matter.