Chandni Chowk To China Movie Review (CCTC)
After the super successful Singh Is King, Akshay Kumar is back with Chandni Chowk to China produced by Warner Bros, one of the largest production houses in Hollywood. The film directed by Nikhil Advani (Kal Ho Na Ho, Salaam-e-Ishq) also stars Deepika Padukone and Ranvir Shorey along with Mithun Chakraborty in a cameo. Chinese Martial Arts actors Gordon Liu (Kill Bill) and Roger Yuan are also a part of the movie.
The pre release hype has been huge, with talks of Akshay Kumar turning into a global sensation and extending his fan-following further. Trade pundits believe, with decent word of mouth, Chandni Chowk To China can in fact beat the Rs 200 crores (worldwide gross) record set by Aamir Khan’s Ghajini in less than 3 weeks. Does Nikhil Advani – Akshay Kumar deliver? Or do they need to? Welcome, Singh Is Kinng and many other Akshay Kumar comedies, being mediocre at best, have worked big time at the box-office.
Sidhu (Akshay Kumar) is an uneducated naïve yet a superstitious man hailing in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. Despite the kicks and advises from his Dada (Mithun Chakroborty), down on his luck this vegetable cutter from the paranthe wali galli visits all possible saint’s, tarot reader’s and baba’s in search of any form of luck. Just when he had given up all hopes of getting something out of the luck charms to make his life, two men from China come in search of him claiming him to be the reincarnation of a war hero from the past and with an offer to take him to China. Sidhu blissfully sets forth to China with Guru Chopstick (Ranvir Shorey) who instigates dreams of a delicious future and forgets to reveal the menace which awaits him. He dreams of a wonderful life with his dream girl, who he calls Ms. TSM (Deepika Padukone), on his way to china. Will this clumpsy weak man live to the hopes of the villagers in fighting against evil and buy them their freedom?
Chandni Chowk To China Review
Akshay Kumar himself claimed recently that the movie lacks sense. Chandni Chowk To China not just lacks sense but rather has no story. Unfortunately, the movie is poorly directed and mostly filled with over the top performances. The first half is a complete drag; the pace is extremely slow and the film is completely dependent on Akshay Kumar and his by now trademark antics to carry it along. But watching his previous 10 odd back to back films with the very same mannerisms, it’s getting awfully hard to sit through.
The second half is better, the action is great but the climax is as flat as a cola without fizz. After all the build up, which consumes the entire second half, a thrilling climax is the least you can hope for. You expect it to be a serious combat between the good and the evil, but the director has instead opted to make it funny. Funny it is, but convincing; it isn’t.
The action is top class, going by the standards of Hindi films. Choreography is brilliant and the way Tere Naina is picturized is nice. The music is good, the Chandni Chowk To China Title song and the S.I.D.H.U track stands out.
Akshay Kumar is getting extremely repetitive with his characters. It’s the same as what you saw in many of his previous films. He’s hilarious at times but while you watch him perform, you get the seen-those-a-million-times-before kind of feeling. Why can’t a capable actor, commanding super popularity, with many talented directors eager to sign him on; attempt something different?
Deepika Padukone looks stunning and has put in a lot of effort into those action sequences. In a negative role, as a Chinese, Deepika is brilliant. Mithun Chakraborty is fine in a short role. The talented Ranvir Shorey disappoints. The Chinese actors are good!
Overall, for a movie that has been hyped as one of the biggest release of the year, it has about 2 – 3 funny scenes and a couple of good action sequences! That’s about it. If that’s good enough to spend your hard earned money on the film, go for it.
Finally, with a hope that Akshay starts experimenting with his roles and tries something different for a change, I go with 2 stars for Chandni Chowk to China. Disappointing!
Rating: 
Other Notes – The funniest thing about the film was the potato with the shape of the Hindu god Ganesha. Akshay somehow manages to hold on to it throughout the film. Bodies are broken, blood is shed, Akshay is thrown from the top of the Wall of China.. but through it all.. the potato manages to survive!
On a serious note, CCTC is strictly for Akshay Kumar fans, others stay far away. What really baffles me is, why doesn’t Akshay try something different? Why is he stuck with his same old successful formula? You might argue that the same movies are working big time at the box-office. I don’t deny that, but wouldn’t an actor love to have a movie like Taare Zameen Par, Chak De India or a Jodhaa Akbar in his filmography? Hope things change with Eight by Ten directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, which I believe could be Akshay’s best movie in a long long time!! Leave your comments below on the (whatever you call it) CCTC / CC2C / Chadni Chowk To China Review
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Comments
Vishal Mehra: (January 16, 2009 at 1:36 am)
Sahil: (January 16, 2009 at 2:06 am)
By sahil-bro fantastic review.akshay needs to change himself.i would say out of 2 hours 30,45 minutes of the film r gud may be dats y it got 2stars.and my appeal to ppl.please don’t promote movies like sing is king,welcome and cc2c coz they genuinely don’t deserve it.rather support aamir,wednesday..evn rnbdj and ghajini were atleast thouroughly entertaning
Sahil: (January 16, 2009 at 2:18 am)
Some scenes are so absurd that u actually have to pinch urself to believe it-like the song sequence in tere naina,cosmic kick scene in the 2nd half and finally that unintentional hillarious climax.seriously akshay needs to learn 4m other superstars like srk and aamir.akshay knows hw to make money by making same kind f flicks.i wasn’t expcting much but it wasn’t even entertaining
Sahil: (January 16, 2009 at 2:27 am)
As about the good part in the movie look out for first 25 minutes. As about the best sequence watch out 4 dat flight scene in 1st half when akshay keeps his luggage. Movie cud have been so gud but is a big let down due to director nikhil advani who is still in his salaame-ishq mode.. I wonder if he actually directed kal ho na ho… lol. Now nikhil ji wants to make a sequel of cc2c which will b china to souh africa
Sudeep: (January 16, 2009 at 2:30 am)
Indicine Team:What do u feel whether it will hit or not….IS this film in the categories like Golmaal returns welcome .no entry?
raj: (January 16, 2009 at 3:35 am)
oh dear, i knew it.
just like i had predicted , the film has turned out to be a terrible film. i had predicted this on the ‘ghajini movie review’ forum. (please see my comments there).
my predictions always seem to be right. at least 99% of the time anyway.
i knew the director (nikhil advani) would spoil the film. and apparently he has spoiled it. the critics are all panning the film.
nikhil advani is the guy that made the film salam-e-ishq. and that film was really boring and amateurish. and when i heard that nikhil advani was directing chandni chowk to china, i knew there and then that the film will be awful. when i watched some of the promos of the film on youtube, i was sure that the film would have no substance and awfully made by nikhil advani.
poor akshay……poor poor akshay…..i really feel sorry for him. this was supposed to be his first international break, if you will, but it looks like it will be his last. i dont think too many international producers will be signing him after this. i think his career will be on the decline.
i dont think the film will do any where near the business singh is kinng has done, let alone beat ghajinis record as some people may think !
akshay deserves much better than that. the director has killed him.
i also have this funny feeling that akshay’s next film ‘kambakht ishq’ will also be a boring film and will not shatter box office records as some people predict.
i feel sorry for akshay, as i feel after these two films, his career will be on the decline, and he will no longer be the superstar he is.
remember, you heard it from me first.
i havent seen CCTC yet. i will see it tomorrow.
Sudeep: (January 16, 2009 at 5:57 am)
Indicine Team:U havenot given me answer whether it is in the categories like GOlmaal returns ,No entry,welcome or not
Sudeep: (January 16, 2009 at 5:59 am)
I donot know…But still i think that this is like a Golmaal returns and welcome type of films where critics were not pleased by the film but still it rule the box office….I hope it will be same type of films…I will watch it today
SUdeep: (January 16, 2009 at 6:04 am)
I will wait other critics to review this film…I was hoping big from this film…I m somewhat dissapointed by this review
raj: (January 16, 2009 at 7:13 am)
sudeep
just go and watch it man ! and decide for yourself.
iam going to watch it tomorrow.
Aryan: (January 16, 2009 at 9:34 am)
Boy’ this movie is been trashed by hollywood critics left n right, Nikhil Advani might hav jus portrayed a bad bollywood film to hollywood. Wen Akki said AB to leave his brain at home for the premiere i knew CCTC wud endup like a golmaal returns n i think thats exactly wat has happened.
AK i feel this might jus b a eye opener for u els u’ll history…
Sudeep: (January 16, 2009 at 10:37 am)
I m been crazy out here,…I donot know what will happen..I m hoping for best for chandni chowk to china………Indicine team:Can u tell me is this movie is in the categories like golmaal returns,no entry,welcome where u and other critics were not happy but it turns out to be hit
Sudeep: (January 16, 2009 at 10:38 am)
I even donot get ticket so have to returns i will go and watch it in afternoon show
Sneha: (January 16, 2009 at 11:18 am)
Golmaal Returns is much much much better film than these stupid flicks Chndni chowk n Singh is King..
Aryan: (January 16, 2009 at 11:33 am)
Hey Sudeep dont get mixed up, i can feel that u r a grt8 fan of AK. i hav already booked the ticket n have paid heavy. anyway this will b enjoyed by AK fans as most of the reviews say, may b they will save the film.
anywayz i will not b going with ny expectations now hopefully i get entertained by AK atleast.
Sudeep: (January 16, 2009 at 12:01 pm)
i m just waiting and waiting still 3 more hrs left to get into the show….I know even it is not great it will be good since AK is there so Crossing my finger…I have read other critics and all have been dissapointed by this film…Taran Adarsh,Starboxoffice.com,Starnew channel,Zee news channel…..But AK have said to leave out their brain while waiting might be they havenot done so still dying to see it
Fathiya: (January 16, 2009 at 12:02 pm)
Indicine Team: As I said earlier.. the movie is a trash.. we can say it and decide from the trailer.. and you asked a question that: why a popular actor like Akshay doesn’t do any different movies?
Akshay is giving the audience what they want.. want to pleases them actually! Didn’t they like these stupid Golmaal and Golmaal returns?! ( specially Golmaal Returns) which I spent only 5 minutes watching it and then I “hated” myself for doing so.
A message for all the viewers:
Jut enhance your tastes for movies, I know that most of you are working very hard during the day and need to spend some good time watching a comedy movie which make u laugh and forget your tough hours .. but you must enhance your taste and love some good comedy, some quality ones, and not movies like these craps.
If Akshay Kumar had any doubt, that most of ppl won’t like it, do u think that he even thought of doing these type of movies? No for sure.. coz he knows and aware that there are millions of audience who enjoy these crap and the movie will be a successful in India for sure ( but.. if this one didn’t work for him.. 100% he will stop doing cheap comedies and will do some high class movies)
Now if I mention here just as an example.. RBNDJ.. wasn’t it a love story with some high class comedy scenes in it? Ghaajini.. wasn’t it action movie but also with high class romantic and comedy scenes which pleased the audience?
Hollywood would definitely consider cc2c as a trash ( if they’ve rejected a movie like Taare Zameen Paar and didn’t enter Oscar! so.. what would they think of movies like Golmaal series and cc2c?!)
SUdeep: (January 16, 2009 at 12:05 pm)
I have watch the interview of AK in zoom last night…He said that he usually dissapear after even film is released …..He said he cant listen the bad review of the film which he had done very hardly..The effort of the making film people donot see ….THis is right thing he have said
ahsan khan: (January 16, 2009 at 12:35 pm)
Sudeep ! don’t think about the review .go and enjoy the movie .
it is a verey good movie for all kind of people . I am sure you will enjoy the movie .it has good action .comedy .and music .we have alot of problem in our daily life and we need some entertanment
and CC2C is a good pakage at this time .and we all know that Fathiya is sharuk and roshan fans that’s way he is always aginst akshay’s movie .
Ur exactly right. Stupid movie with senseless direction. A big letdown. I can safely say that there is no difference between akshay n govinda now. The story seemed from 80s and the gravity- less scenes were extrremely irritating n insulting to a movie goers intelligence.