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80This 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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75The picture uses humor and a heartfelt conviction to tell a story about discovering your destination in life.
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70Full of fresh and unexpected observations about the cross-culturally complex lives of second-generation Indians living in the U.S.
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63Much of the movie's gentle charm comes from Mehta, the director's younger brother, making his acting debut.
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60Mehta says it all so articulately and with such good humor.
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60Perceptive, good-natured movie.
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60American 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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50There 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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50The ethnicity of its leads is the only novel aspect of an otherwise bland exercise.
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30Chai'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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30As 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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30This ethnic family sitcom thing is rapidly turning into wearisome cliche, and American Chai doesn't hold a candle to either "Beckham" or "Greek Wedding."