Roger Ebert criticized the film for having an unbelievable premise with "desperate" slapstick and aggression, and characters that lack chemistry and individualism compared to the "heft and dimension" the main cast of Space Cowboys had, saying that "The Crew unfolds as a construction, not a series of surprises and delights."
Roger Ebert criticized the film for having an implausible premise, featuring "desperate" slapstick and aggression, and characters lacking chemistry and individuality compared to the "depth and complexity" of the main cast in Space Cowboys, stating that "The Crew unfolds as a predictable narrative rather than a series of surprises and delights."