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American Chai
Magic Lamp Distribution Services

American Chai reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 46 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.8 out of 10
based on 12 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 8 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: R for some sexual dialogue

Starring Aalok Mehta, Paresh Rawal, Sheetal Sheth, Josh Ackerman, Ajay Naidu, Aasif Mandvi, Jamie Hurley, and Anand Chulani

A funny, heartfelt, coming-of-age story about Sureel, a first generation Indian-American college boy who can't tell his traditional parents he wants to be a musician, not a doctor. (Fusion Films)


GENRE(S): Drama  
WRITTEN BY: Anurag Mehta  
DIRECTED BY: Anurag Mehta  
RELEASE DATE: Theatrical: April 5, 2002 
RUNNING TIME: 92 minutes, Color 
ORIGIN: USA 

Audience Award for Best Feature, 2001 Slamdance International Film Festival; Audience Award, 2001 Gen Art Film Festival; Best Feature, Technical Achievement Award, 2001 Philadelphia Festival of Independents

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80
Film Threat Merle Bertrand
This well made, slightly cornball and riotously comical romantic comedy not only extols the old fashioned American dream, but charmingly celebrates the virtues of the great American melting pot as well.
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75
Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea
The picture uses humor and a heartfelt conviction to tell a story about discovering your destination in life.
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70
New Times (L.A.) David Ehrenstein
Full of fresh and unexpected observations about the cross-culturally complex lives of second-generation Indians living in the U.S.
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63
New York Post Megan Lehmann
Much of the movie's gentle charm comes from Mehta, the director's younger brother, making his acting debut.
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60
The New York Times Lawrence Van Gelder
American Chai may not tell a new story, but in its understanding, often funny way, it tells a story whose restatement is validated by the changing composition of the nation.
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60
TV Guide Ken Fox
Mehta says it all so articulately and with such good humor.
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60
Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
Perceptive, good-natured movie.
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50
The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin
The ethnicity of its leads is the only novel aspect of an otherwise bland exercise.
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50
Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington
There are no surprises in this movie -- not even in the Bollywood parodies, when the hero and heroine finally, subversively kiss. There is talent, though.
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30
Washington Post Desson Thomson
This ethnic family sitcom thing is rapidly turning into wearisome cliche, and American Chai doesn't hold a candle to either "Beckham" or "Greek Wedding."
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30
Village Voice Ed Park
As earnest as a community-college advertisement, American Chai is enough to make you put away the guitar, sell the amp, and apply to medical school.
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30
LA Weekly Mark Olsen
Chai's structure and pacing are disconcertingly slack. Missing the loose ends and ambiguities of actual conversation, the dialogue makes characters sound like they're delivering speeches rather than interacting.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

T. Thomas gave it an 8:
This movie makes a great point while making you laugh from time to time. I think it's one of the better Indian American movies made.

[Anonymous] gave it a 10:
This was a great movie. These critics say it makes u want to put away your musical instruments and go to medical school when it actually does the exact opposite. This movie has a great plot and some very funny parts to it. If it was focused only on comedy like "American Desi" then the plot wouldn't be as developed. "American Desi" is funny but has a very poor plot as compared to this movie.

J. K. gave it a 9:
I don't know what these reviewers are talking about...this movie is solid. Funny, touching and some great music.

Rajesh L. gave it a 10:
Funny!!

Tarik T. gave it an 8:
I actually thought it was funny considering I am not a fan of indian movies. Some reveiwers are stuped.

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