Metacritic reviews

Attention-getting it is. Entertaining, too. But meaningful? Are you kidding? [22 Jul 1984, p.D1]

A country singer wagers that she can teach her trade to a New York cabbie, with predictable results. Directed by Bob Clark, who mostly exploits the presold personalities of stars Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone.

Rhinestone isn't unrelievedly terrible. It is helped by a director, Bob Clark, who treats the material good- humoredly and takes it lightly, as well as by a funny supporting cast.

The movie feels like a half-hour skit blown up, like its stars, to unwieldy proportions. [02 Jul 1984, p.45]

For all its cornball charm Rhinestone ultimately does little to disprove the widespread notion that the "funny Sylvester Stallone comedy" remains a pop-culture oxymoron.

Effortlessly living up to its title, Rhinestone is as artificial and synthetic a concoction as has ever made its way to the screen.

Whereas the badly miscast Stallone never gets a handle on the material (albeit there isn't much to get a hold of), Parton manages to rise above the script and is appealing. The multiple costume changes that she and Stallone make, however, are no substitute for laughs.

Unfortunately, Rhinestone is content to cackle and scratch around at such a dumb cluck level of facetiousness that what began as a "cute" idea degenerates into a moronic one. [22 Jun 1984, p.B8]

Sure, Dolly Parton has wonderful energy and a great voice, and sure, Sylvester Stallone has a gift for hambone physical comedy. But this movie is so thin they both seem curiously absent.