Here's the LUKEWARM RECEPTION:

Todd Martens of Los Angeles Times commented particularly on 'Rihanna's command performance' citing it "A midtempo song without overbearing production, the single belongs all to Rihanna, and she makes the best of it -- a bit icy, a tad fearless, with the vocal strength to keep the orchestral flourishes at bay."[10] MTV News stated "it retains the same sort of attitude and atmosphere that has made Rihanna such a definitive artist." MTV Newsroom followed with a poll resulting quite favorably as "83 percent of the people (poll sample) we talked to gave "Russian Roulette" the thumbs-up"[11] E! Online declared it "a surefire hit."[12] Simon Vozich-Levinson of Entertainment Weekly said that Rihanna took some risks with this track and they "absolutely pay off", he commented on the fact that "Rihanna is in fine vocal form throughout, and Ne-Yo’s songwriting is economical and evocative per usual".[13] Popjustice described the song as "brilliant", selecting it as their song of the day on an unprecedented two occasions.[14]