Judging by audience reaction and box office tallies before the show even opened, the new Broadway production, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”, would seem almost critic-proof. Still, the reviewers get to have their say once the premieres, which it did on Sunday, Jan. 12, at the Stephen Sondheim Theater. An overview of King’s career, the tuner is chock full of her hits – from “So Far Away” to “The Locomotion” to “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” So, did the critics love the show?

The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney backhand-compliments the show by calling it “entertaining boomer bait” but also adds that it’s “a tremendous showcase for the talented Jessie Mueller,” who plays King. Though he complains that the songwriter’s life story feels “sanitized” with some stereotypical personae, he also credits the book’s “well-defined characters with relatable human foibles.” Ultimately, he favorably compares the show to “Jersey Boys”, which is about as money-review as you can get.

Though he, too, loves Jessie Mueller (and her “extraordinary…gradual transformation” of King from self-effacing writer to star), chief New York Times critic Ben Brantley’s backhand to the show is a bit fiercer, as when he chides the “by-the-numbers” script (and “Jersey Boys”) by sneering “you can’t go broke helping AARP members recall the soundtrack of their youths.” Brantley found the show a bit exhausting, “dutiful” and lacking originality, but for him as for Rooney, Mueller repeatedly saves the day.

In his *** review, Daily News critic Joe Dziemianowicz echoes the above complaints about the juekboxiness of “Beautiful”, noting, “too bad a great musical isn’t only about the music… this show’s connect-the-dots storyline is so simplistic that the extravagantly talented King’s life emerges as a mundane version of the long-suffering little woman.” On the plus side, “Under the direction of Marc Bruni, the whole cast delivers,” and Mueller “brings lots of sweetness and some depth to the role” of King.

Though her review is more of an overview and a bit sparse on personal opinion, Newsday’s Linda Winer also appreciated “Marc Bruni’s crisp direction and Josh Prince’s precision choreography” as well as Mueller’s portrayal.

Associated Press scribe Mark Kennedy puts his opinion front and center: the show is “insipid,” “lackluster” and “there are moments in the script where another, better musical is hiding.” At least Mueller “plays King with genuine feeling and a lovely voice.”

On the other side of the fence we find NBC’s Robert Kahn, calling the show “a rich thrill” and “a must-see if you’re a King fan.” He especially liked the chemistry between Mueller and Jake Epstein, playing the manic-depressive Gerry Goffin. Kahn’s only criticism is that the show simplifies the low points of King’s life into just her failed marriage (whereas her 2012 memoir, “A Natural Woman”, was “more thorough.”

Writing for BroadwayWorld, Michael Dale was more critical of “Beautiful’s” book, noting that the “central plot is more of a soapy, shorthand connect-the-dots between hit songs.” Still, he notes that despite the “genial inoffensiveness of the musical’s creaky dramatics,” the show “certainly entertains.”

In her **1/2 review, USA Today’s Elysa Gardner basically agrees about “Broadway’s latest musical nostalgia trip,” adding that lead Mueller is “far and away the best reason to see `Beautiful’… It’s a performance of utter musical and emotional authenticity.”

Variety’s Marilyn Stasio concurs, writing that whenever Mueller “sits down at the piano and pours heart and soul into familiar favorites from the composer’s songbook” the show’s “flat-footed book” and “corny chronological storytelling and old-fashioned musical format” are “forgotten, even momentarily forgiven.”

In his ***1/2 review, AM New York’s David Windham echoes the general consensus about the book and lead performance conquering the book’s shortcomings. He writes that this “sentimental and sympathetic biography led by a poignant, extremely winning performance from breakout star Jessie Mueller, is slickly staged, genuinely touching and very enjoyable.” Oh, he adds: “And who can resist those songs?”