'CHANDNI CHOWK...' GETS LUKEWARM RECEPTION FROM U.S. MEDIA
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IANS
The Hindu
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Washington (IANS): American mainstream media has given a
lukewarm reception to Chandni Chowk to China, the largest-
ever release of a Bollywood movie in North America, calling
it "a genetic experiment" and a "genre-mashup overkill".
"A veggie-slicing galoot from Delhi goes to China to
realise his destiny as a martial arts master -- and just
from the synopsis, I'm on board with Chandni Chowk to
China," says Time magazine reviewer Richard Corliss.
But "the results of this genetic experiment are mixed.
Chandni Chowk to China is probably 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", he says.
The film "has the feel of one of many Indian glosses on
American films, not of something fresh and foreign. For a
really thrilling amalgam of Bollywood and Hong Kong, I'm
still waiting", says Corliss.
The New York Times says: "Genre mixing is mother's milk to
Hindi films, so it's no surprise that 'Chandni Chowk to
China' can so seamlessly add Kung Fu to the usual blend of
comedy, dance and melodrama."
"Chandni Chowk to China", the first Bollywood movie to be
financed and distributed by Warner Brothers, "starts too
frantically but settles down to become an enjoyable, if
slight Saturday-matinee, picture," says reviewer Rachel
Saltz.
To Washington Times, Chandni Chowk to China seems, "in some
ways, like a dish at one of those Indian restaurants - its
spiciness has been toned down for the American market".
"Still, it's unlike anything Hollywood puts out. The
Bollywood film is unapologetically sentimental and silly,
and this melodrama is no exception," it says.
Robert Abele of the Los Angeles Times says in Chandni Chowk
to China, "Kung fu pounds it out with Bollywood and round
after round of gags, chaos and music".
"Sold as a groundbreaking convergence of Asia's leading
cinematic influences -- kung fu flicks and Bollywood
extravaganzas -- it also sees fit to toss in rap video
fantasias, commercial parodies, James Bond tropes and
Looney Tunes touches for what can only be termed genre-
mashup overkill," Abele adds.
Boston Globe's Michael Hardy calls "Chandni Chowk to China"
"Bollywood's all-singing, all-dancing, all-Hindi bid to
conquer America".
"Backed by Warner Brothers, which is giving it the largest
North American release of any Indian film to date, Chandni
Chowk to China could, if successful, forecast a veritable
monsoon of Bollywood imports," he says.
"But only if American audiences can accept an action hero
who talks to potatoes," Hrady adds.
More at:
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