Metascore
44 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 22
  2. Negative: 5 out of 22
  1. 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.
  2. Reviewed by: Michael Hardy
    75
    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.
  3. 63
    Fun but somewhat exhausting.
  4. Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
    63
    There are inventive and engaging moments in this broadly comic action saga. But Chandni is at once enjoyable and maddening.
  5. 63
    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."
  6. With musical numbers and fight scenes as big as its heart, director Nikhil Advani's action-comedy really does sample it all.
  7. Reviewed by: Rachel Saltz
    60
    Starts too frantically but settles down to become an enjoyable if slight Saturday-matinee picture.
  8. Reviewed by: Richard Corliss
    60
    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.
  9. Its combination of maudlin sincerity, cruel slapstick, exotic romanticism and boogie-down dance sequences may befuddle more than it entertains.
  10. 50
    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.
  11. A massive and rather tiring showcase for Bollywood action hero Akshay Kumar.
  12. 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.
  13. Of some interest for promoting rapprochement between India and China, this is still awfully silly.
  14. 42
    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.
  15. Reviewed by: John Anderson
    40
    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.
  16. Reviewed by: Dan Kois
    40
    It's a live-action Looney Tunes cartoon that lasts 154 minutes rather than just five, and it's as exhausting as it sounds.
  17. Entertainingly goofy for about 30 minutes. And then, for the next two hours-plus, it's agony.
  18. Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    30
    2 1/2 hours of shouting, gesticulating, pratfalls and groin kicks will leave viewers with an MSG headache.
  19. 30
    It's chop-socky vindaloo, pleasing on a platter but awfully difficult to swallow whole.
  20. It all makes you want to see a Bollywood movie, all right -- a good one.
  21. Reviewed by: David Chute
    20
    Alas, Chandni Chowk to China, directed by Nikhil Advani, is asymmetrical in the extreme: shapeless, shameless, and slapdash.
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 15
  2. Negative: 5 out of 15
  1. StevenB.
    9
    Funny Fast and has Kung Fu. Its a little too long the reason why I rated it down one. But apart from that it is a brilliant film. Watch if you like silly comical films but can also put up with length (2hr+). Full Review »
  2. SidS
    0
    Useless Garbage!
  3. DaleP
    6
    To Nookie B. Pretty damn sure you weren't born in China as you mispelled "chinese" three times. I didn't watch the movie though and couldn't post unless i had a rating, so i gave it a neutral six. Full Review »