Mr. Pandya tells a story of conflicted assimilation that's been told before, but he and his exuberant cast invest it with fresh energy and winning humor.
50
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
With a few exceptions, the Indian characters are two-dimensional buffoons whose traditions are presented as silly quirks meant for cheap laughs.
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
The subject is likable and the story has possibilities, but why does every single performance sink into a self-indulgent mess of hammy overacting?
Most of it has to do with the ways younger Indian-Americans keep their culture alive in the United States and the ways they don't.
50
Village VoiceMichael Atkinson
Village VoiceMichael Atkinson
Clubfooted but earnest, Pandya's movie never forgets about its second-gen issues, but never quite plumbs them, either.
50
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
The script is often obvious and much of the acting is amateurish (Rakesh's comic sidekicks are just dismal), though Purva Bedi is a shining exception — she's got star quality to burn.
38
New York PostJonathan Foreman
New York PostJonathan Foreman
Despite some genuinely funny scenes, American Desi turns out to be inferior to the as yet unreleased "ABCD" and even last year's "Chutney Popcorn."