The film was presented at the 2008 [[Sundance Film Festival]], and released to theatres on May 1, 2009, to positive reviews. {{As of|2020|06}}, the film holds a 65% approval rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on 77 reviews with an [[average rating]] of 5.91/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Michael Keaton's directorial debut, ''The Merry Gentleman'', is a slow character study aided greatly by the performances of Keaton and Kelly MacDonald."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/merry_gentleman|title=The Merry Gentleman (2009)|publisher=|accessdate=15 June 2020|via=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref> [[Lisa Schwarzbaum]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' wrote of the film, "This Debbie Downer of a drama is a bitter slug".<ref>{{cite book|title=''Entertainment Weekly'' May 8, 2008 pg. 51}}</ref>
