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Preview's Paul Bicking calls Rat Race "questionable at best." He faults "less-than-humorous sight gags," the fact that the characters use some questionable language and, in the midst of this farce's zaniness, "some of the characters actually lie to each other." And Douglas Downs at Christian Spotlight on the Movies is greatly distressed: "Zucker, who soared in the comedy Airplane! and the romantic drama Ghost, crash lands in this film. His 80-plus cast did provide work for three of his family members (how nice). Too bad his cast didn't work to provide a decent comedy. Where are Red Skelton, Buddy Hackett, Bill Cosby, and Jonathan Winters when you need them? Ninety minutes never seemed so long."

But Movieguide's critic points out that these characters' misbehaviors do lead to the appropriate consequences: "Greedy acts land them in even more trouble. Also, the story ends on a strong moral note, in a slightly redemptive fashion." Focus on the Family's Bob Smithouser agrees: "It all ends with a benevolent twist that puts the immoral scheming in perspective, but the ride is still pretty bumpy. Gags come fast and furious in Rat Race. Many of them are laugh-out-loud funny. And in an era of cutthroat reality TV, the finale has nice warmth to it." He adds, however, "unnecessary detours spoil the trip."

Others offer half-hearted compliments. The U.S. Catholic Conference's critic says, "Jerry Zucker's road comedy garners several laughs despite the familiar concept." "I could've used more John Cleese," says The Phantom Tollbooth's J. Robert Parks, "but there were still enough laughs to keep me smiling. Thankfully, screenwriter Andy Breckman mostly eschews the gross-out comedy that's so prevalent today." On the other hand, he has nothing good to say about Gooding: "His comic timing is horrible, and he's reduced to making weird faces and looking surprised. It's one of the most painful performances of the year."

A few stood and cheered. Movie Parables' Michael Elliott enthuses: "Director Jerry Zucker and screenwriter Andy Breckman concoct some pretty ridiculous scenarios. The reason they work is … they stick with them to the end. No hit-and-run comedy here. They'll hit us with a joke, then back up and hit us with the same joke four, five, twelve times. For some reason, it makes it all the funnier." He also finds truth in the film's assumptions about human nature: "Certainly there is nothing spiritually wrong with being wealthy. It is just when becoming rich turns into an all-consuming passion that we find ourselves treading in dangerous waters." And Phil Boatwright at The Dove Foundation came away more impressed than anyone. "Knowing the mindset of today's filmmakers, I expected this remake to be more like the coarse Cannonball Run than the non-offensive Mad World. How surprised and pleased I was that I finally found a comedy that made me laugh so hard, I nearly doubled over. I simply can't remember the last time a comedy consisted of so much hilarity."

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August (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45