No Reservations
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Bland-but-sweet dramedy more for adult palates.
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No Reservations
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What's the Story?
In NO RESERVATIONS, type-A chef Kate (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is all business and the talk of Manhattan. But at home, Kate's a mess. Her sister unexpectedly dies, and suddenly Kate's the guardian of her young niece Zoe (Abigail Breslin). Kate's so clueless she tries to feed Zoe a whole steamed fish -- whole fish, with head and milky eye intact -- instead of the fish sticks the girl would prefer. But soon enough Nick (Aaron Eckhart), with his Italian flair for cranking up arias and making the kitchen staff sing along, wins over Zoe with a plate of good ole spaghetti marinara. With Zoe playing Cupid, she hooks her aunt up, and the odd-couple chefs start rubbing off on each other -- he becomes more ambitious and she more laid back.
Is It Any Good?
There's romance in No Reservations, but not the kind you would expect from a Hollywood romantic comedy. The emotional connection between Kate and the cuisine she artfully creates is entertaining and satisfying. But Kate's slow-but-predictable relationship with the restaurant's carefree new sous chef Nick is less exciting than watching the many close-ups of haute cuisine. These may be attractive Hollywood actors, but they lack convincing chemistry.
Although director Scott Hicks couldn't coax a magical spark out of his leads, he does a fine job of showing how food, especially beautifully prepared food, can be a sensuous delight. And while the movie's lesson -- about letting your hair down once in a while to go with the flow -- is trite, it's also familiar and sweet.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the difference between personal and professional success. How was Kate successful in one way but not the other? What did her kitchen employees think of her, and how did they react to Nick's work style? What did Zoe and Kate learn from each other?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 27, 2007
- On DVD or streaming: February 11, 2008
- Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Director: Scott Hicks
- Studio: Warner Bros.
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Cooking and Baking
- Run time: 103 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: some sensuality and language.
- Last updated: January 30, 2023
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