The sympathetic but sharp writing that made Bend It Like Beckham such an acutely-observed delight goes missing as [Gurinder] Chaddha sets about piling unappetizing scenes involving projectiles masquerading as food and unfunny apparitions.
Read full articleYou don't see that many supernatural serial-killer romantic comedies.
Read full articleIt's a Wonderful Afterlife may be a busy trifle, but it has its good-natured charms and agreeable gross-outs.
Read full articleA magical realist comedy about the idealization of state-sanctioned heterosexual coupledom.
Read full articleIts comic premise seems too silly, and at times, too tedious, to hope for much cross-cultural appeal, despite a fine, committed cast.
Read full articleThese spirits are just gory enough to be out of place in a film that is otherwise designed for fans of bland, creakingly old-fashioned humour.
Read full articleAll in all, It's a Wonderful Afterlife is essentially a bundle of missed opportunities.
Read full articleChadha's recipe for the film appears to be: kooky comic supporting characters, crime, romance and essence of Ealing, together with big chunks of other films. Shame, then, that the result is a bit of a hash; more of a lumpy mish-mash than a tasty masala.
Read full articleI found myself laughing more at badly composed scenes, lame make-up, and poor performances than at the humour.
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