A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

The Evaluation System Reviews by Title Reviews by Date

Reviews from Video Reviews of the Classics Personal Background

Title: No Reservations

Date Viewed: 8/4/07

Details:

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Aaron Eckhart

Abigail Breslin

Director: Scott Hicks

Score: +

The Review: A bit grim for most concepts of a romantic comedy -- not just the initial situation but continuing developments -- No Reservations approaches a boundary with conventional drama. This in no way detracts from its entertainment value, but beware: this is no mere confection.

Kate (Zeta-Jones) is the chief chef in a trendy Village restaurant: single, no relationships, focused, workaholic, intense, up-tight, type-A with a temper -- but a superb and imaginative chef. Her life changes overnight when a tragic accident claims her sister and leaves Kate as surrogate mother for her niece Zoe (Breslin). Forced to take some time off, she discovers she has been (temporarily) replaced by Nick (Eckhart), a chef perhaps diametrically opposite to all Kate's traits, equally good in the kitchen but with (shall we say?) superior people skills. From tension flows drama; from drama, interest. Not bad. Predictable, but not bad.

Decent characters; Breslin is growing into new roles, and doing so well.

(10-Sep-07)

Back to the chronological list of reviews