All in Good Time is a gentle, funny and intimate portrait of Indian newly weds unexpectedly forced to spend their honeymoon with the groom’s parents. Newlyweds Vina (Amara Karan) and Atul (Reece Ritchie) are virgins. They have an intrusive family who continually obstruct them from consummating their marriage. The film is based on the hugely popular 1963 play by Irish playwright Bill Naughton.

Photo courtesy of Shaw Organisation

The first film adaptation was “The Family Way” (1966). This sweet comedy became a theatre hit again in 2007 under the name “Rafta Rafta” written by Ayub Khan-Din (East is East). Ayub Khan-Din has now retold the story in a modern British-Asian setting. Director Nigel Cole (Made in Dagenham, The Wedding Video) delivers a genuinely funny, bittersweet drama about love between husbands and wives, parents and children.

Photo courtesy of Shaw Organisation

Amara Karan, (The Darjeeling Limited and St. Trinian’s), Reece Ritchie (Prince of Persia) are joined by a strong Indian cast including acclaimed stage actors Meera Syal and Harish Patel.  I have to admit director Nigel Cole at times overplays the roles of the Indian women and Eeshwar (Harish Patel), making them into caricatures.

Photo courtesy of Shaw Organisation

“All in Good Time” is a light-hearted, romantic comedy that humorously tackles the family clashes within this British Asian family and the cultural differences between generations. It plays up the central theme that humour, patience and time is needed to make any relationship work.

-Christophe Chanel