The middle 100 minutes of the movie are charming and moving and surprisingly interesting.

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The best thing about Yentl is its earnestness. It may resemble a vanity production from afar (or at close range, too, for that matter), but even at its kitschiest it seems to be heartfelt. That goes a long way, though not far enough, toward saving the film from its own built-in difficulties.

Janet Maslin

The New York Times