Alas, Chandni Chowk to China, directed by Nikhil Advani, is asymmetrical in the extreme: shapeless, shameless, and slapdash.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
Seattle Post-Intelligencer by Bill White
Its combination of maudlin sincerity, cruel slapstick, exotic romanticism and boogie-down dance sequences may befuddle more than it entertains.
There are inventive and engaging moments in this broadly comic action saga. But Chandni is at once enjoyable and maddening.
ReelViews by James 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."
Chicago Tribune by Michael Phillips
A massive and rather tiring showcase for Bollywood action hero Akshay Kumar.
Chicago Sun-Times by Roger 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.
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.
Philadelphia Inquirer by Steven Rea
Entertainingly goofy for about 30 minutes. And then, for the next two hours-plus, it's agony.