By Martin D'Souza, Bollywood Trade News Network
Is Bollywood regressing to the formula films of the 80s? Buffoon to hero. Villain chases down inspector's family. Wife loses life. Twins are separated. One in India, the other in China! Inspector in the wilderness for 20 years. Back in the force without explanation. Buffon plays a big part in the twins meeting their lost father and helping wipe out the villain. In the end, alls well that ends well. Only thing here, there is no posse of police officers who turn up at the grand finale when villain is killed. GHAJNI is the latest example of going back to the 80s. However, this film was cleverly packaged. The same cannot be said about CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA. Akshay Kumar clowns around with a potato. He lives in Delhi making ends meet, chopping vegetables in big brother Mithun Chakraborty's eatery. He is conned into going to China made to believe that he is the reincarnation of Lui Sheng, an ancient Chinese warrior. But he is not told that the villagers, who are the grip of the evil Hojo, are relying on him to free them from his clutches. The rest, as Akshay Kumar's character (Sidhu) says is Naan with noodles! Get the drift? He could well have been referring to the script. There's also a chopstick in the form of Ranvir Shorey. What's missing is schezwan sauce! Its buffoonery all the way, as you are made to suspend your grey matter as Sidhu goes flying as high as an aircraft and comes down with the powers of a superman. In short, this is comic action at its tragic best. Yet, there are moments when the laughter is turned on, but some jokes are on Akshay's gotis! Jokes that will appeal to the frontbenchers. Technically, this movie is sound. The fights measure up to international standards and the presence of Gordon Liu as the evil Hojo and Roger Yuan as inspector Chiang lend credibility to the martial arts. Akshay Kumar is now getting repetitive but there is no denying his star presence. Deepika Padukone is not exactly fire and brimstone but as the Chinese 'twin' she stands apart. Mithun leaves his mark. Although this is a tragic tale of our current times (buffoonery), this film will do well at the box office. I mean, if OSO and WELCOME could, this definitely will. Rating - 2/5
