Chandni Chowk to China
Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: January 16, 2009 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
44
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews
Positive:
5
Mixed:
12
Negative:
5
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
Boston GlobeMichael Hardy
Although Americans may be overwhelmed by the dizzy mix of music, dancing, and kung fu, they should have no trouble appreciating the talent of this extraordinary entertainer. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleJonathan Curiel
More important is to be in a silly mood yourself. Without that - without a complete suspension of disbelief - Chandni Chowk to China is a drag to sit through. Read full review
63
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
For those with an adventurous and offbeat cinematic appetite, Chandni Chowk to China offers its shares of enjoyments, although there are plenty of "downs" to go along with the "ups." Read full review
63
USA TodayClaudia Puig
There are inventive and engaging moments in this broadly comic action saga. But Chandni is at once enjoyable and maddening. Read full review
63
New York PostLou Lumenick
Fun but somewhat exhausting. Read full review
60
The New York TimesRachel Saltz
Starts too frantically but settles down to become an enjoyable if slight Saturday-matinee picture. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsJoe Neumaier
With musical numbers and fight scenes as big as its heart, director Nikhil Advani's action-comedy really does sample it all. Read full review
60
TimeRichard Corliss
A decent sampler for Americans who've never seen a full-out Bollywood musical, since it goes heavy on the action scenes and light on the big dance numbers. Read full review
58
Seattle Post-IntelligencerBill White
Its combination of maudlin sincerity, cruel slapstick, exotic romanticism and boogie-down dance sequences may befuddle more than it entertains. Read full review
50
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
It will appeal to the large Indian audiences in North America and to Bollywood fans in general, who will come out wondering why this movie, of all movies, was chosen as Hollywood's first foray into commercial Indian cinema. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
A massive and rather tiring showcase for Bollywood action hero Akshay Kumar. Read full review
50
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
Fitfully amusing. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderAndrea Gronvall
Of some interest for promoting rapprochement between India and China, this is still awfully silly. Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Stephen Cole
At two hours and 34 minutes, CC2C is too much by a half: too much dancing and fighting and too much footage of the Great Wall of China. It does, however, have a vulgar energy and many of the jokes work. Read full review
42
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
A more accurate way to describe it would be "conceptual nightmare"--crass, schizophrenic, culturally insensitive, horribly paced, and shameless in its pandering to the lowest common denominator. Read full review
40
VarietyJohn Anderson
As with many a Bollywood epic, you can bring the kids, your lunch, your cell phone, your unfiled taxes. There's so much here, and in such heaping, lengthy portions, you could probably weave a sari before the end credits. Read full review
40
Washington PostDan Kois
It's a live-action Looney Tunes cartoon that lasts 154 minutes rather than just five, and it's as exhausting as it sounds. Read full review
38
Philadelphia InquirerSteven Rea
Entertainingly goofy for about 30 minutes. And then, for the next two hours-plus, it's agony. Read full review
30
The Hollywood ReporterStaff (Not credited)
2 1/2 hours of shouting, gesticulating, pratfalls and groin kicks will leave viewers with an MSG headache. Read full review
30
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
It's chop-socky vindaloo, pleasing on a platter but awfully difficult to swallow whole. Read full review
25
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
It all makes you want to see a Bollywood movie, all right -- a good one. Read full review
20
Village VoiceDavid Chute
Alas, Chandni Chowk to China, directed by Nikhil Advani, is asymmetrical in the extreme: shapeless, shameless, and slapdash. Read full review
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