No Reservations

Here is a romantic dramedy with spine. In 'No Reservations' Catherine Zeta-Jones is a chef with issues. Here she is serving a raw steak to a customer who complained that the first one was too well-done.

Visual, gets deep into character. Chef is high-maintenance and her food is froufrou. When her sister dies in a car accident Chef must take care of her niece. She is not prepared for a kid in her life, especially under the conditions, and a nervous breakdown follows. When Chef takes time off work to deal with new circumstances Sous-chef, Aaron Eckhart, steps in to keep things afloat at the restaurant. That he is a man (and a brass-tacks Italian chef at that) irks Chef to no end. However, Sous-chef manages what Chef can't -- he connects with niece and helps smooth things out during a difficult time, helping Chef to create a family out of broken pieces and start a new life.

/film has some production stills and I was struck by the genuineness of this one.

Cute but not too too. I like the feel of this movie -- crafted, good story, light but not lite. Zeta-Jones is a draw, and she clicks well with Eckhart. Food, and the preparation of same, serves as the central metaphor here -- these guys did a good job contrasting the pros and cons of Cuisine Nouveau vs. classic dishes and the parallels between quality of food and quality of life.

Director Scott Hicks shot this one with a very grounded look that will balance out the subject matter and appeal to adult audiences. And, Village Roadshow has a great track record with script selection. This one should have a light but long run in theaters and do great business on DVD.