STAR RATINGS EXPLAINED
Unmissable
Excellent
Good
Poor
Tragic

FILM DETAILS

Certificate 12A

Cast Shabana Azmi Goldy Notay Mark Addy Sally Hawkins.

Directors Gurinder Chadha.

Screenwriters

Running Time 99 minutes

LATEST FILM REVIEWS Seasoning House, The Renoir Stories We Tell East, The Shun Li And The Poet 5 STAR REVIEWS Stories We Tell My Neighbour Totoro Gatekeepers , The Stoker In The House

It's A Wonderful Afterlife
Carry On Up The A40

Tweet

Plot
Indian mother Mrs Sethi's (Azmi) obsession with marrying off her daughter turns murderous.

Review
For many, Gurinder Chadha’s follow-up to the likable Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging will seem a bizarre leap into oblivion, a silly, Carry On-style comedy in which Southall residents are murdered with naan bread and curry, culminating in an excruciating Carrie homage at an Indian wedding. But among the airborne poppadoms and exploding daal, there’s an endearing human drama, largely due to to the terrific Shabana Azmi as a protective mother who kills to protect her ugly-duckling daughter, Roopie (Goldy Notay).

The jokes are awful, the slapstick sometimes unbearable, but, weirdly, it works, if you go with the flow. There’s a lot to enjoy in the mother-daughter dynamic, plus, in the absence of a new Bridget Jones, Roopie’s desperate yearning for a fairy-tale romance is, in among the flying savouries, really rather sweet.

Verdict
With jokes that routinely miss the mark and cringeworthy slapstick, this black comedy farce shouldn't work. Somehow, though, it does.


Reviewed by Damon Wise

Write Your Review
To write your review please login or register.

Your Reviews

Average user rating for It's A Wonderful Afterlife

An Indian mother goes to many lengths to many lengths to make sure her daughter is not left unhappy and alone after she passes to the next world. In her quest to find her daughter her perfect match to finds herself haunted and aided by the ghosts of those who rejected her daughter. From the Director of Bend it Like Beckham, this comedy is a fun loving giggle. Not to be taken seriously (as some critics panned it), this film should be seen for what it is, A bit of fun! Light hearted and in plac... More

Posted by zedphelan at 19:36, 11 September 2010 | Report This Post

RE: Not bad

I think Empire has been far too generous here - it really is a poor movie. The laughs are too infrequent, and the plot is ridiculous. Gurinder Chadha has steadily gone downhill since Bend It Like Beckham.   Full review on my blog (below!)... ... More

Posted by iheartthetalkies at 11:17, 05 May 2010 | Report This Post

Not bad

Empire's review is a little light but ultimately accurate. It does work, kind of. Well cast and with some film homage in there, it was more of a Sunday night Channel 4 job, but still entertaining enough. ... More

Posted by bretty at 22:39, 02 May 2010 | Report This Post

Yes it does work

I knew nothing about this so it was a delightful discovary for me it is funny and warm and not really meant to be taken seriously. This film is a little gem I recommend it ... More

Posted by Bighousewill at 18:03, 23 April 2010 | Report This Post

no it doesnt work

no it doesn't work. the jokes are awful, the script is terrible...the carrie homage...absolutely turd. i went to a press screening of this and it was embarrassing for everyone watching at how bad it was! no one laughed at all. really empire, defo got it wrong on this one. if i could give it no stars i would. but i'll give it one star purely because of Shabana Azmi, who is an absolute legend ... More

Posted by eyesplash at 10:01, 22 April 2010 | Report This Post

CURRENT HIGHLIGHTS
		The Beginner's Guide To Monsters University's Newcomers Let director Dan Scanlon and producer Kori Rae be your guides
		Exclusive: Will Yun Lee On The Wolverine He'll admit to playing Kenuichio Harada - but does his character have another name?
		David S. Goyer And Zack Snyder On Man Of Steel Secrets Spoiler warning: The writer and director spill some super-sized beans...
		The Empire Podcast: Joss Whedon Special Much ado about Avengers 2...
		Full Q&A: Steven Spielberg And George Lucas On Hollywood's Future 'We're in a mess but of the chaos will come some amazing things'
		Man Of Steel Interviews: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Zack Snyder, Michael Shannon & Antje Traue The cast and director of the Superman reboot spill the beans...
		Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Trailer Breakdown What happens when the chat hits the fan?

Get the Empire iPad edition today Subscribe and save up to 44% on annual digital subscription Print & digital packages Buy single issues Subscribe to Empire magazine today Get six issues of Empire for £15 and save up to 37% All subscription offers

Follow @empiremagazine