Variety by Justin Chang

In the end, The Mule is essentially a straightforward, somewhat overextended crime story enlivened by its uniquely grotesque circumstances (based on a true story, as noted at the beginning), and directed by Mahony in a lean, no-frills style that’s entirely convincing where it counts.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service by Roger Moore

A bloody, violent and yet grimly comic tale.

The Hollywood Reporter by John DeFore

While the film suffers from its own occasional sluggishness, it picks up as the lawmen watching our hero grow as strained as he is.

The Dissolve by Mike D'Angelo

The film’s biggest drawback is its essentially passive nature, which prevents it from ever building to a crescendo.

Village Voice by Alan Scherstuhl

The Mule proves a tough sit, but by the end you might be satisfied you gritted through it.

The Playlist by Kevin Jagernauth

Mahony and Sampson certainly know how to lay out a crime/thriller/comedy structurally, but unfortunately, they mishandle the tone and momentum this sort of movie needs to work.