This is a sweet, whimsical, low-key movie, a movie that makes you feel good without pressing you too hard.

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Though the film is obviously coated with a veneer of nostalgic sentimentality, Eastwood never lets Honkytonk Man veer into maudlin territory.

Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

It is a guileless tribute not only to plain values of plain people in Depression America, but also to the sweet spirit of country-and-western music before it got all duded up for the urban cowboys.