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No Reservations
No Reservations
Actors: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson, Jenny Wade
Director: Scott Hicks
Genres: Comedy, Drama
PG     2008     1hr 44min

A perfectionist chef addicted to her work struggles to adjust when her sister passes away leaving her with a little girl to raise and a new soup-chef threatens to take over her kitchen with his high-spirited and free-wheel...  more »
     
     

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Movie Details

Actors: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson, Jenny Wade
Director: Scott Hicks
Creators: Bruce Berman, Kerry Heysen, Mari-Jo Winkler, Sergio Aguero, Susan Cartsonis, Carol Fuchs, Sandra Nettelbeck
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Sub-Genres: Romantic Comedies, Love & Romance
Studio: Warner Home Video
Format: DVD - Color,Full Screen,Widescreen - Closed-captioned,Dubbed,Subtitled
DVD Release Date: 02/12/2008
Original Release Date: 07/27/2007
Theatrical Release Date: 07/27/2007
Release Year: 2008
Run Time: 1hr 44min
Screens: Color,Full Screen,Widescreen
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 25
Members Wishing: 0
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Languages: English, French, Spanish
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
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Member Movie Reviews

Sharon F. (Shar) from AVON PARK, FL
Reviewed on 1/17/2022...
I really loved this movie. I loved Catherine Zeta-Jones in this role. And I loved the chemistry between her and Aaron Eckhart. The little girl is wonderful in this movie too. Heartbreak leads to heartwarming...a great recipe for life.

The star chef becomes irritated at her customer's disrespect, then all of a sudden finds herself as a mother of her sister's young daughter. Having never been married or around children, she is really stressed out and is forced to cook with someone she distains. Like all good love stories, everything works out for all of them.
0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Charlene P. (SJP) from LA MESA, CA
Reviewed on 12/20/2015...
O.K. So I haven't seen the movie yet, i'm going to get it through netflicks and check it out and see if I want to own it or not. I'm a Chef so it seemed interesting to me. (Although VERY RARELY do they show what working in kitchens is really like. Drug use, sex with the hot waitresses, etc. :) The fact that most chefs/kitchen staff(line cooks etc) are adrenaline junkies with insomnia. Drinking, partying and F***ing. My original point of writing this is to point out that it's SOUS Chef NOT soup chef. LOLOLOLOLOLOL
3 of 9 member(s) found this review helpful.
Christine G. from FLORISSANT, MO
Reviewed on 9/26/2014...
Predictable love story. pretty bland, really. The best part of the movie was seeing the food and how it was prepared.
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Anita S. (AnitaLee) from BRADENTON, FL
Reviewed on 5/18/2013...
I enjoyed this movie when I saw it at the theater and I am so glad I swapped for it. it is romantic, has the cooking theme we all love, love the actor & actress and the little girl is adorable. ALL AROUND GOOD, CLEAN, UPLIFTING ENTERTAINMENT! A
2 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

Movie Reviews

A Recipe for Life
Chris Pandolfi | Los Angeles, CA | 07/23/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)

"There's a light, good-hearted nature to "No Reservations" that's quite pleasing, if a little predictable. This is just as much a story of life as it is a story of romance, and we all know the formulas such films follow: a person's world is rearranged when someone new enters his or her life, and the laughter, tears, and conflict will be plentiful. I expected nothing less from "No Reservations," which is probably why I was able to enjoy it. This is a charming, funny, touching film that casts away any qualms about being formulaic, which is a good thing for anyone in need of romantic escapism. I don't dare question how realistic the events of the film are; this is not a film that bothers with realism, but rather with the idealism that life is supposed to work in a specific way. At times, it's a welcome diversion.

The plot concerns Kate (Catherine Zeta-Jones), the executive chef of an upscale New York restaurant. We immediately get the sense that hers is a very organized, controlled world; while not explicitly critical or demeaning, she is fiercely protective of what she's worked so hard for, namely her position at the restaurant. Here's a person that's strong on the outside but deeply insecure on the inside, exemplified by her inability to receive criticism (never complain about the food she prepares; you'll definitely regret it). For these reasons, she's ordered into therapy. She pretty much dominates her own sessions with incessant discussions on food preparation--appetizing, yes, but not exactly enlightening. Her therapist (Bob Balaban) is initially unable to ask any questions or give any advice. Clearly, she's afraid to let anyone examine her personal life.

Her world is turned upside down when her sister dies in a car accident, leaving behind a daughter, Zoe (Abigail Breslin). Because there's no father in the picture, Kate is now faced with the responsibility of caring for her. But will she know what to do? A child has never been a part of her life; being a chef is the only life she's ever known. She knows virtually nothing about Zoe, not even her favorite color. Furthermore, Zoe has lost her mother, meaning she'll need the extra emotional support Kate may not be able to give. It will be an adjustment, and a tough one at that; not only is Zoe unwilling to eat, she's also unwilling to let Kate get close.

In this regard, she takes right after her aunt, whose defensiveness runs on high after a new chef is hired. Nick (Aaron Eckhart) is a man with a bright, free-spirited approach to cooking: he listens to opera; he actively engages the other chefs; he's charming and witty. Kate finds him threatening, and initially treats him as such by being cold, critical, and distant. But when she decides to bring Zoe to work with her one night, she notices how well Zoe and Nick get along. He even gets her to eat. Thus begins a strained friendship that the audience knows will progress into something more. Of course, that's exactly what the audience hopes will happen. Quite simply, Nick is fun to be around and Kate is not; their coming together allows her to lighten up and let someone in emotionally.

As the film progresses, the relationship between Kate, Zoe, and Nick develops, not necessarily as it would for a family, but rather as it would for a group of friends. I never once thought that Zoe would ever see Nick and Kate as parental figures, which is just as mature on Zoe's part as it is sad. Likewise, I never once thought that Kate saw herself as a mother, despite her growing love for Zoe. The dynamic between these three characters is complex, especially when a number of other conflicts are introduced. For one thing, Zoe fragile state causes problems at school. It also threatens to ruin everything Kate has tried to accomplish. Both are trying, but it's clear that a lot of emotional baggage remains.

Herein lies the film's major weakness: most of Kate's emotional baggage is undefined. We do get a couple of brief mentions, such as her mother's passion for cooking and her father's absence from her life. But none of this is properly developed, and that made her controlling behavior seem less understandable and more uncalled for. Still, I was taken by the dramatic tension between her and Nick; watching an uptight person letting their guard down is both entertaining and uplifting. And I was definitely moved by her attempts with Zoe, who's just begging to be hugged and soothed and reassured that everything would be all right. There's a moment when she watches home video of her mother; Kate sneaks in, sits down, and holds Zoe tightly. You can practically see the emotion dripping off the screen, which is probably why it's effective.

Equally as effective is the growing love between Kate and Nick--a love that can go in any direction but ultimately treads the expected path. I've seen enough cinematic romances to understand that this is appropriate, maybe even necessary. "No Reservations" is the kind of film we occasionally want to see, if not for plausibility, then for the satisfaction of temporarily disappearing into a fantasy. It plays on our personal desires, namely those of happiness and well being in the midst of a crazy world. At one point, Kate says, "I wish there was a cookbook for life"; I found this clever, despite the overuse of the basic message. If it's possible for me to appreciate this kind of dialogue--or even a film with this kind of dialogue--then I think it's safe to assume that it's possible for you, too."
Bland
Ron | Jersey | 03/29/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)

"This romantic comedy is likable but extremely predictable. Catherine Zeta Jones plays a chef at an upscale NYC restaurant who has devoted her life to being a great chef. So much so that she doesn't have time for anything else. Her sister is killed in a car wreck on the way to visit leaving her with her daughter to raise as her own. Meanwhile the new assistant chef is a carefree guy who brings big changes with him. Can you see it coming? Catherine doesn't like him at first, but then....Yes you guessed it. The story is okay and the acting is good enough, but there is nothing new here. This is a good rental to watch with the girlfriend or wife."
Never trust the re-make
G. Ferniany | USA | 08/02/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)

"This movie is based on a german film named "Bella Martha" which is actually one of my favorite movies. I couldn't even get through this one because it was so horrible in comparison.

The plot is basically the same - a control obsessed chef is burdened with her dead sister's daughter, and a new hire is making the moves on her. The characters have a lot more depth, though, and the cinematography is perfect with the different moods of the movie. If you were tempted at all by the plot of "No Reservations" go rent "Bella Martha" instead. Mostly Martha"