Nina's Heavenly Delights

Stars: Shelley Conn, Laura Fraser, Ronny Jhutti, Art Malik

Director: Pratibha Parmar

Returning home a few years after fleeing an unwanted arranged marriage, Nina (Conn), a Glaswegian of Indian parentage, finds her late father's beloved restaurant is on the verge of being sold. But, with the help of Lisa (Fraser), who now owns half the restaurant, Nina resolves to enter the city-wide curry house contest that her father was anxious to win for the third time.

All the right elements for a warm-hearted romantic comedy seem to be here but, as the movie comments about some of Nina's rivals' dishes, the right chemistry is missing.

The film's heart is in the right place, but perhaps director Parmar throws just too many ingredients into the pot - lesbian lovers (cue long, lingering glances), gay dancers called The Chutney Queens, a mixed (secret) marriage), forbidden Highland dancing (was there ever a mother this understanding?) and a final cookery competition that stretches credulity to breaking point.

As any TV food fan will tell you, two contestants leaving their meal for 20 minutes, only to come back and win, just isn't possible. And the acting is certainly less impressive (and hot) than Nina's chicken xiacuti.

David Quinlan

UK 2006. UK Distributor: Verve Pictures. Colour.
94 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: PG.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 1.

Review date: 24 Sep 2006