DVD Search - Tortilla Soup DVD

A remake of Ang Lee's family comedy Eat Drink Man Woman, Maria Ripoli's Hispanic-American ensemble feature set in Southern California about a veteran chef named Martin Naranjo (Hector Elizondo), who is slowly losing his sense of taste. He has three daughters, all of whom have chosen different paths. There is Letitia (Elizabeth Peña), the oldest and most repressed of the bunch, a rigid schoolteacher who is a member of the Christian faith. His youngest, Maribel (Tamara Mello), is the most assured, though plagued by doubts. His middle daughter Carmen (Jacqueline Obradors) is most like him and shares his taste for cooking, but has chosen a career as a corporate consultant, which makes for a more secure lifestyle. She is offered a high-profile job in Barcelona, which causes a rift in the family setting. Maribel soon finds herself drawn to a handsome Brazilian student (Nikolai Kinski), and Letitia is gaining affection for Orlando (Paul Rodriguez), an awkward ballplayer whom her students have sent mistaken love letters to without her knowing. Also at their dinners are a shy single mother (Constance Marie) and her obnoxious mother (Raquel Welch), who has her sights set on Martin's affections. Tortilla Soup is Maria Ripoli's second major feature, after her whimsical 1998 feature Twice Upon a Yesterday. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide

Hector Elizondo - Martin
Jacqueline Obradors - Carmen
Elizabeth Peña - Letitia
Tamara Mello - Maribel
Nikolai Kinski - Andy
Paul Rodriguez - Orlando

Maria Ripol's family comedy Tortilla Soup comes to DVD with a pair of transfers. The widescreen anamorphic transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and is preferable to the standard full-frame image. English and Spanish soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitles are accessible in both of those languages as well. The lack of any consequential supplemental materials is difficult to swallow, but this Columbia/TriStar release does do a fine job of presenting the film. For fans of the movie, this DVD will hit the spot. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide