The film follows Jeff (Harris) and Sam (Somerville), a young couple who move to New York City and find themselves navigating the competitive world of elite private kindergartens.

While the film aims to satirize the competitive world of elite private school admissions, Cataldo criticized its reliance on exaggerated humor and implausible scenarios, which undercut its social commentary.

Millinocket praised Harris for his charismatic performance and the film’s occasional moments of sharp humor but criticized its over-reliance on crude jokes and outlandish scenarios.

"[6] John Anderson of Variety described The Best and the Brightest as "a scattershot farce" that attempts to skewer the competitive New York City private school admissions process but is weighed down by uneven writing and forced humor.

Anderson praised Harris for his performance and commended Sedaris' comedic timing, but noted that the film often misses its mark, relying too heavily on exaggerated antics rather than sharp satire.

"[7] Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times described The Best and the Brightest as a "promising comedy" with an intriguing premise that ultimately falters due to its reliance on farcical situations.

While Sharkey praised the strong cast, particularly Neil Patrick Harris and Amy Sedaris, she criticized the film's "uneven tone" and "over-the-top antics," which undermine its attempt to satirize the competitive world of private school admissions.