No Reservations (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
Kate (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is a Master chef at an upscale Restaurant in Manhattan in 'No Reservations', a family dramedy directed by Scott Hicks. Her life is her job, and the job is her life. She has little-to-no time for anything else, including family or dating. Her no nonsense/perfectionist attitude is put to a serious test when her 9 yr. old niece, Zoe (Abigail Breslin) enters her brownstone apartment. Having just lost her mom (Kate's sister) in a car accident, it's up to Kate to put someone ELSE before her and start down a new path in life. The movie is honest, compassionate, yet, I feel like there was more story to tell. It cut itself short.
Kate is a gorgeous woman, but her hardworking, steely nature in the kitchen has people intimidated by her, with the exception of the restaurant owner (Patricia Clarkson). She knows her precise cooking (full of flavor & spice) will quell most people's appetites. She's so focused on what she's doing as she whirls around the kitchen that she doesn't realize she lacks any endearing social skills around people. Even after she acquires her adorable little niece, she's terrified that she can't raise a little person. She has no idea how to take care of a child, cook for a child, make sure she has everything for school, etc. And since Zoe is undeniably bereft at her mom's recent death, she's practically inconsolable, looking for someone or something to love again. She deserves it.
Back at the restaurant, '22 Beecker St.', Kate also has to contend with a brand new sous-chef, Nick (Aaron Eckhart). He is everything that she is not (upbeat, smiley, free-wheeling). At first, Kate is scared that he'll take over 'her' kitchen. But as time wears on, he's slowly able to melt the icy shell around Kate & a budding chemistry between these 2 attractive characters becomes apparent. From rivals to heartwarming romance, it's up to Nick & (especially) Kate to connect with poor little Zoe and make her feel as important and as loved as possible. Will Kate & Nick remain together? Or will some tension in the kitchen dash any hopes of a relationship? Will Kate become the surrogate mom that she aims to be? Or will she (in the end) not be able to break down her cold barriers?
It's funny, this film is neither a romantic comedy, nor is it a melodrama. Never is the focus completely on Kate & Zoe, nor is it on Kate & Nick's potential romance for very long, either. It cuts back & forth evenly. The romance is actually very sweet, and only develops much later on in the movie. With romance comes some comedy, and it's needed to cut the sister/mom death aspect of the plot. Eckhart is boisterous & charming as Nick. Opposites attract, so you want him to be with Kate in the end. But as 'nice' as the film is, it IS the death of Zoe's mom that hangs over the film like a dark cloud. There's great sadness, but it's handled very tenderly by Zeta-Jones, and especially our Little Miss Sunshine, Abigail Breslin. The acting, predicaments, & cinematography are quite good here.
Though, I do have a few complaints. In order to appreciate Kate's warm side, she needed to be even colder in the beginning. More time could have been spent on the romance, and there needed to be a better conclusion to the grief & healing aspect of the story. An entire therapist segment should have been cut. And while the film is full of emotional content, there isn't much oomph. It's bland, & calling for a pinch of spice. After a brief climax, the movie ends (quite nicely), you leave the theater, and you'll probably mull it over for a day or two. Then ... it will exit your mind and you'll sorta, kinda remember it if brought up years from now. That's how I'd explain this film. It's an old-fashioned, subtle tale that you can't help but like; though, wouldn't call unique. The movie looks good, it's predictable (which is fine), and it gets a decent B-/2.5 star rating out of me. But 'No Reservations' leaves an unfortunately thin impression in the grand scale of cinema.
Kate is a gorgeous woman, but her hardworking, steely nature in the kitchen has people intimidated by her, with the exception of the restaurant owner (Patricia Clarkson). She knows her precise cooking (full of flavor & spice) will quell most people's appetites. She's so focused on what she's doing as she whirls around the kitchen that she doesn't realize she lacks any endearing social skills around people. Even after she acquires her adorable little niece, she's terrified that she can't raise a little person. She has no idea how to take care of a child, cook for a child, make sure she has everything for school, etc. And since Zoe is undeniably bereft at her mom's recent death, she's practically inconsolable, looking for someone or something to love again. She deserves it.
Back at the restaurant, '22 Beecker St.', Kate also has to contend with a brand new sous-chef, Nick (Aaron Eckhart). He is everything that she is not (upbeat, smiley, free-wheeling). At first, Kate is scared that he'll take over 'her' kitchen. But as time wears on, he's slowly able to melt the icy shell around Kate & a budding chemistry between these 2 attractive characters becomes apparent. From rivals to heartwarming romance, it's up to Nick & (especially) Kate to connect with poor little Zoe and make her feel as important and as loved as possible. Will Kate & Nick remain together? Or will some tension in the kitchen dash any hopes of a relationship? Will Kate become the surrogate mom that she aims to be? Or will she (in the end) not be able to break down her cold barriers?
It's funny, this film is neither a romantic comedy, nor is it a melodrama. Never is the focus completely on Kate & Zoe, nor is it on Kate & Nick's potential romance for very long, either. It cuts back & forth evenly. The romance is actually very sweet, and only develops much later on in the movie. With romance comes some comedy, and it's needed to cut the sister/mom death aspect of the plot. Eckhart is boisterous & charming as Nick. Opposites attract, so you want him to be with Kate in the end. But as 'nice' as the film is, it IS the death of Zoe's mom that hangs over the film like a dark cloud. There's great sadness, but it's handled very tenderly by Zeta-Jones, and especially our Little Miss Sunshine, Abigail Breslin. The acting, predicaments, & cinematography are quite good here.
Though, I do have a few complaints. In order to appreciate Kate's warm side, she needed to be even colder in the beginning. More time could have been spent on the romance, and there needed to be a better conclusion to the grief & healing aspect of the story. An entire therapist segment should have been cut. And while the film is full of emotional content, there isn't much oomph. It's bland, & calling for a pinch of spice. After a brief climax, the movie ends (quite nicely), you leave the theater, and you'll probably mull it over for a day or two. Then ... it will exit your mind and you'll sorta, kinda remember it if brought up years from now. That's how I'd explain this film. It's an old-fashioned, subtle tale that you can't help but like; though, wouldn't call unique. The movie looks good, it's predictable (which is fine), and it gets a decent B-/2.5 star rating out of me. But 'No Reservations' leaves an unfortunately thin impression in the grand scale of cinema.