Much of the film's press coverage was devoted to Dick and his crew's use of private investigator Becky Altringer to unmask the identities of the ratings and appeals board members.

These details were significant in the context of the film's critique of the MPAA ratings process, as the MPAA had said (according to the film) that the review board was composed of average American parents, with children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 17, who serve on the board for fewer than seven years.

[7] Before Dick sent the film to the MPAA to receive a rating, he was assured that the tape he submitted would not be viewed for any purpose other than rating and that no copies would be made or distributed, but, on January 24, 2006, the MPAA admitted to making duplicates of the film contrary to Dick's wishes.

The critical consensus reads: "A fascinating and entertaining film that will open many eyes to the often-questioned tactics of the MPAA and their ratings system.

The magazines Rolling Stone ("terrific...indispensable"),[12] Entertainment Weekly ("irresistible"),[13] and USA Today ("rated R for raves"),[14] as well as critics such as Roger Ebert ("devastating")[15] and Slate's Dana Stevens ("matter-of-factly presented, and thoroughly entertaining")[16] praised the film for its novel techniques and unprecedented revelations that dispute longstanding MPAA statements about the ratings system.

David Poland of Movie City News wrote: "Even though it speaks to a subject I think is very important—the failures of the rating system and, specifically the NC-17—the tough, smart research just isn't in the film.