Variety's review finds "The Sun Never Sets," director Joe Swanberg's latest romantic comedy, an unsatisfying entry in his filmography, criticising it as "both bizarre and boring". The film stars Dakota Fanning as Wendy, who agrees to a relationship break with her partner Jack (Jake Johnson), a single father, so she can be certain of her feelings; this sparks a love triangle when she reconnects with an old flame, Chuck (Cory Michael Smith). The critic argues the film fails to capitalise on its distinctive Anchorage, Alaska setting and that its leads behave with a strange, unconvincing lack of social awareness that undermines the story's naturalistic tone.

The review highlights supporting performances from Debby Ryan as Wendy's pregnant best friend and Lamorne Morris, whose cameo reunites him with former "New Girl" co-star Johnson. Despite being shot on 35mm film, the critic says Swanberg's visually understated style compounds rather than offsets the oddness of the characters' muted reactions to escalating personal drama, comparing the film unfavourably to the work of one of his stated influences, French director Maurice Pialat.