Boxoffice Magazine by Pam Grady

That tension between silly comedy and poignant drama could have been dicey, but Stebbings and Harrelson maintain just the right balance between the two.

L.A. Weekly

Although Harrelson displays the right balance of sweetness and quiet instability, Defendor’s genial spirit fails to mesh with the filmmaker’s exploration of darker emotional terrain.

Variety by Dennis Harvey

Harrelson shines, particularly in framing scenes with Sandra Oh as a tactful court psychiatrist.

L.A. Weekly by Tim Grierson

Although Harrelson displays the right balance of sweetness and quiet instability, Defendor’s genial spirit fails to mesh with the filmmaker’s exploration of darker emotional terrain.

The Hollywood Reporter by Michael Rechtshaffen

Saving the day is Harrelson's low-key, rooted performance, adding an unexpected layer of poignancy when things take a decidedly darker turn.

Los Angeles Times

For all its aspirations, the film never meshes into something cohesive or substantial. Its naive earnestness has its charms, but like its title character, Defendor never takes flight.

Los Angeles Times by Glenn Whipp

For all its aspirations, the film never meshes into something cohesive or substantial. Its naive earnestness has its charms, but like its title character, Defendor never takes flight.