AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis remarked that the song took a phrase popularized by Arsenio Hall and made it into "another cleverly infectious Top Ten smash.

"[2] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "After forging a guitar-driven pop/hiphop sound that is being heavily copied by others, groove clique deftly sidesteps into James Brown-style funk territory.

"[4] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report stated that writers/producers Cole and Clivillés "have successfully crossbred a unique brand of rap and melody that's taken them on back-to-back trips into the Top Ten.

"[6] David Quantick from NME said, "The old C&Cs have blown it this time with a very ordinary sort of tune indeed that doesn't so much fail to stay in the memory as break the doors down, steal the car and drive to Birmingham.

[9] Australian music channel Max included "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..." in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2013.

British girl group Stooshe covered the song and released it in 2013 as a B-side to their single "Black Heart", under the title "Things That Make You Go Mmm".