The film underperformed at the box office and received negative reviews by critics, with most criticism aimed at the casting of Ben Platt (who was 27 at the time) as a high school student, with many accusing his casting of being due to nepotism, as his father, Marc Platt, served as a producer on the film.[7][8] Criticism was also aimed at its direction, lack of faithfulness to its source material and portrayal of mental illness, though some praised the supporting cast's performances.