India Sweets and Spices Parent Guide

Alia (Sophia Ali) has just completed a successful year at UCLA, studying biology and leading the social justice club. Having finished the semester with a drunken party involving a DIY haircut, she’s off to her family’s New Jersey home for summer break.

A chance trip to the local Indian grocery store introduces Alia to Varun (Rish Shah), the handsome son of the owners. Acting on a whim, Alia invites Varun’s family to a party at her home. When they arrive, her mother, Sheila (Manisha Koirala) reacts unexpectedly – turning Alia’s understanding of her parents upside down.

India Sweets and Spices bursts with a variety of flavors – some appealing; some less so. It pops with vibrant colors, the frequent parties awash with brilliant saris and mouth-watering food. (If you have any fondness for Indian food, the samosas in this film are going to have you ordering take out ASAP.) The story also carries positive messages about being true to yourself, demanding respect, being honest, and standing up for what you believe. The movie’s portrayal of the importance of family is also significant – as is the terrible cost of eroding it.

The biggest problem with the movie lies in the character of Alia herself. Although she sees the emptiness of her parents’ lives, with their focus on appearances and conspicuous consumption, she is far less clearsighted about her own life. Alia is a spoiled princess, oozing entitlement. When her father (Adil Hussain) suggests that she work at his medical office over the summer, she petulantly complains that summer is for relaxing and then spends the season lounging by the pool, reading Vogue, and complaining. A new boyfriend has the nerve to point out the hypocrisy of her critiques of her parents, suggesting that she is also living a materialistic life. Alia is indignant. “I use organic chapstick!” she retorts, convinced that her progressive bona fides are legitimate.

Other behavior in the movie is less than praiseworthy. There are over 40 profanities and frequent scenes of alcohol consumption, some of which involve drunkenness. Sex scenes are not explicit, but there is a passionate, adulterous kiss, and a scene of unmarried people making out on a bed.

The negative content is unfortunate because the movie emphasizes strong female characters and highlights their courage. But just as a great meal can be overwhelmed by poorly balanced seasoning, the positive messages in this story are overshadowed by the gratuitous profanity and sexual material. There’s a better movie in here somewhere; sadly, we only get a taste of it.