I was disappointed in it as well.
They definitely were going for the mass market, rather than the die-hard Dr Who franchise fans. I guess that's what happens to British stuff when it crosses the pond.
I wonder how much of it has to do with the BBC pushing Russell T Davies (creator/writer of QAF and many others) out of Dr Who, even though he's the one that brought it back and made it the massive success that it is. From that, he created Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures. The Sarah Jane Adventures sadly died with Elisabeth Sladen earlier this year. The BBC can't take Torchwood away from Russell, but they do own all the rights to Dr Who.
As a side note, the Red Dwarf movie would have been made years ago, IF the creators would have agreed to do a total recast. Hugh Grant was to play Lister. I don't remember the rest of the recast, but Hugh Grant as Lister really sticks in my mind.