All in Good Time
Directed by Nigel Cole
Distributed by StudioCanal
Nigel Cole’s All In Good Time is a rare instance in low-budget, independent films. Well-cast characters crammed into a tiny row house fill most of the screen time, and what results is a no-frills family dramedy with a warm heart at the centre.
The film, adapted from Bill Naughton’s play of the same name, follows newlyweds Atul (Reece Ritchie) and Vina (Amara Karan). It centres on the two, who after a botched honeymoon, are forced to move in with Atul’s boorish, uninformed father (Harish Patel) and kindly, quiet mother (Meera Syal). The marriage hits a roadblock with their inability to consummate their marriage.
If formulaic, the film is actually fairly enjoyable. Karan’s sweet-heart Vina plays well against Ritchie’s grumpy, pessimistic Atul. For all his screentime, though, it gets boringly predictable to watch Ritchie conjure up ways of avoiding sex, and then sulk about it for the bulk of the movie.
The true gem of the film is Patel as the overbearing, boisterous father figure. For the majority of the movie, he serves as sufficient comedic relief from the gloom and troubles of Atul and Vina’s marriage. But his floodgates open midway through the film as he drops the funnyman routine and gets serious with some surprisingly poignant and touching scenes.
The ensemble holds up well in the cramped space, and likeable performances across the board help steam an otherwise mediocre story along. Cole’s choice of set is spot-on, as the claustrophobic row houses make for a too-close-for-comfort feel.
All in Good Time provides laughs, drama, and a good handful of heart-felt family commentary, all in an appealing, plain package. If only for Patel’s performance, give it a watch.
