[3] The episode sees Moe trying to keep his new girlfriend by using a large amount of money, but when it runs out, he decides to commit insurance fraud.

With Moe Szyslak depressed at having gone four years without a date, Homer takes him to meet a woman at Stu's Disco, but he fails to do so.

In need of more money once his Player's Club card gets maxed out and he scares off his customers after calling in their bar tabs, Moe concocts a scheme to commit insurance fraud, convincing Homer to steal his car and park it on train tracks so it will be destroyed.

Homer botches the plan by stopping to watch a drive-in movie, missing the train that was supposed to destroy Moe's car.

Instead, Homer drives the car off a cliff, but is unable to escape and sinks into the water near the yacht where the police charity event is taking place.

[4] Director Dominic Polcino and the animators of the episode were praised for their efforts by the other staff members, especially during the scene where Homer is driving down the cliff and attempts to escape Moe's car.

Hans Moleman pushing a book cart down the prison corridor references the character Brooks Hatlen doing the same in The Shawshank Redemption.

[11] The authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, enjoyed the episode, commenting: "A case perhaps of life reflecting art as guest star Helen Hunt is now married to Hank Azaria, who is, of course, Moe, which is rather nice as you can't help but feel sad that, by the end of this rather clever and charming episode, Moe has been unlucky in love once more.

"[2] In a 2006 article in USA Today, "Dumbbell Indemnity" was highlighted among the six best episodes of The Simpsons season 9, along with "Trash of the Titans", "The Last Temptation of Krust", "The Cartridge Family", "The Joy of Sect", and "Das Bus".