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No Reservations

When I realized I was going to have to see and then review this movie I thought, 'Great, there goes an hour and a half of my life I'll never be able to get back.' Who wouldn't want to go see Raising Helen: Redux? I mean"¦ No Reservations? Well, I wouldn’t! I'm so over the standard formulaic Hollywood feel-good summer films that I'd much rather spend that time in the dog park with my puggle Cody.

To my delight and utter shock, however, after seeing the film I was really glad that I took the time to go. Yes, there are a lot of correlations to the previous Kate Hudson vehicle, but where Raising Helen used humor to skirt around the over-lying sadness of the piece, No Reservations actually embraces it and creates a very moving film that isn't afraid to deal with the affect that losing a parent has on a child.

The gorgeous Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Kate, a somewhat dictatorial chef at a downtown New York City restaurant whose life is throw into upheaval after the death of her sister and the arrival of her niece Zoe. I know what you're thinking, right off the bat, how the hell can Catherine Zeta-Jones be believable as a mere chef? One of the most beautifully elegant, clearly upper crust women in the world reduced to an apron-wearing steak-slinging domestic! Impossible. As it turns out, Zeta-Jones manages to create a character that is totally believable and completely endearing to the audience. Never once throughout the film did I question her place in this world. (Watching the trailer, on the other hand, was a different story. She seems wildly out of place until you see the entire film.)

In spite of his Bon Jovi inspired hairdo, co-star Aaron Eckhart manages to hold his own against the overwhelming talent of Zeta-Jones as her love interest / rival chef, Nick. The storyline of the typical workaholic woman who hasn't dated in years but is swept off her feet by the handsome stranger happens here with the twist of the orphaned child thrown into the mix. Abigail Breslin will break your heart as the devastated, misplaced Zoe. She is by far and away the best actress in her age range. Which, I suppose only means she's better than the Fanning's; but still her performance is amazing. You really have to wonder what it is she's drawing on to evoke these horrible emotions resulting in this stand-out performance.

The backdrop of New York City is always a plus in any film that actually bothers to film here and No Reservations is no exception. It's a cliché at this point, but the city really does become a

character in the film. I don't think I'd be able to swallow (pun intended) the idea of these famous sought after chefs living the lifestyle that they do any where else. (Well, maybe Paris, or Rome, but let's be honest, nothing beats New York.)

While I did have HUGE Reservations about seeing this film and still prefer spending time with my pooch over watching movies, I have to admit that I really enjoyed it and would have to recommend this film to anyone who's up for some emotional turmoil and high society New York living! On the downside though, by the time you leave the theater you'll be cursing the popcorn you just ate and will have an unstoppable craving for some sautéed duck!

Movie Grade: B

Synopsis:

Master chef Kate Armstrong (Catherine Zeta-Jones) lives her life like she runs her kitchen at a trendy Manhattan eatery"”with a no-nonsense intensity that both captivates and intimidates everyone around her. Kate’s perfectionist nature is put to the test when she “inherits” her nine-year-old niece Zoe (Abigail Breslin), while contending with a brash new sous-chef who joins her staff. High-spirited and freewheeling, Nick Palmer (Aaron Eckhart) couldn’t be more different from Kate, yet the chemistry between them is undeniable. Rivalry becomes romance, but Kate will have to learn to express herself beyond the realm of her kitchen if she wants to connect with Zoe and find true happiness with Nick.