Janeane, a conservative housewife from Iowa, is an undecided voter who wishes to find more information about the Republican Party politicians running for U.S. President in 2012.

[2] Dennis Harvey of Variety wrote, "Grace Lee's film can be billed (or dismissed) as a stunt, but it admirably refuses to go the predictable route of 'punking' the candidates for easy satire or cheap laughs.

"[3] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter called it a "toothless satire" that "fails to make any compelling points.

"[6] Nick McCarthy of Slant Magazine rated it 1.5/4 stars and wrote, "Yet another entry in the canon of pandering pablum that audiences can expect in a presidential election year, Grace Lee's Janeane from Des Moines would be an intriguing depiction of personal and political disillusionment if its conceit wasn't so transparent and lopsided.

"[7] ION Cinema wrote, "What truly impresses is Wilson's ability to remain in character – she is more convincing than when Michael Moore walked hospital corridors in an actual health care doc Sicko, or what Sacha Baron Cohen and Joaquin Phoenix recently attempted.