Review: All In Good Time

All In Good Time starts with a big wedding and goes on to detail the disappointments and frustrations of the ordinary life that follows. To some extent, the film mirrors its story.

Director Nigel Cole, being a veteran of British film making, is experienced at getting the most out of a limited budget and he manages to sprinkle a little magic on the Bolton-based Indian wedding of Atul (Reece Ritchie) and Vina (Amara Karan) while keeping it realistic.

After that, though, just as the newly-wed couple have to endure living with his parents, the film has problems disguising its theatrical roots.

It is an adaptation of the National Theatre hit Rafta Rafta, itself taken from 60s film In The Family Way, which in turn came from 1963 play All In Good Time.

The screen adaptation is by Rafta Rafta's author Ayub Khan-Din and he seems to have kept fairly faithful to the original – although towards the end he includes a few moves from the Richard Curtis school of rom-com (little spoiler, most notably the slightly Maoist notion that the hero making some kind of long march to proclaim his feelings is the height of romance.)

It's not particularly funny or moving but it's solid entertainment, with sweet performances. It's not an all-out good time, but it should satisfy its prospective audience.

ALL IN GOOD TIME (12A)

Director: Nigel Cole

Starring: Reece Ritchie, Amara Karan, Meera Syal, Harish Patel and Arsher Ali

Length: 94 mins

***