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 enlarge | Director: Scott Hicks
Actors: Catherine Zeta-jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson, Jenny Wade
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $4.77
You Save: $15.21 (76%)
New (58) Used (49) from $4.77
Rating:  77 reviews
Sales Rank: 180
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 104 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: WARD113907D
UPC: 085391139072
EAN: 0085391139072
ASIN: B00005JPSM
Theatrical Release Date: July 27, 2007
Release Date: February 12, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 61-65 of 77
 Not a romantic comedy February 18, 2008
Rushmore (CHICAGO, IL United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I agree with the reviewer who pointed out that although billed as a romantic comedy, this movie is neither very romantic nor a comedy. The whole story of the sister dying and her little girl coming to live with Kate is really quite sad. I have to assume CZJ was drabbed down a bit for this role. Aaron Eckhart has a great time with his part - an opera singer he is not, but a great lover of life, yes indeed. There is not a whole lot of chemistry between the leads, but thank God Nick is there to help Kate get used to the idea of being responsible for another human life, because she really struggles. I am somewhat ambivalent toward this movie. I wanted more in terms of character and relationship development. How well did Zoe know her aunt before she had to come live with her? Really, if Nick was such a catch as a sous-chef, why didn't he have a job as head chef at another restaurant? And without giving away the ending (except to say that it very much reminded me of the end of Waitress), the journey between the penultimate scene and the final scene would have made a pretty good movie in itself. However, I was consistently entertained and occasionally touched, and I think I will have to look up Mostly Martha now.
Falsely advertised as a romantic comedy/summer hit February 18, 2008
terpfan1980 (Somewhere near Washington DC, United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Falsely advertised and promoted as a romantic comedy/charming/summer hit movie, as noted in other reviews here at Amazon.com this movie is not a romantic comedy, or at least not a prototypical romantic comedy.
There's romance in the story, but it's not the prime focus. There's also comedy, but again, not the prime focus.
Mostly there's a story of an overly stressed and tightly wound head chef for a busy restaurant in a big city environment who has inherited her sister's only child and has been somewhat forced to work with a chef she didn't get to select and approve of before his hiring.
The movie is entertaining enough to rate 3 stars, but in trying not to be any one type of movie there seems not to be much of an identity here at all.
People that have worked in the restaurant business, or who are interested in the restaurant business may enjoy the film a bit more than others as it offers a bit of a behind the scenes look at the restaurant business. Then again, you could turn the TV on and watch Hell's Kitchen, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, the Food Network or similar material to gain some of the same insights.
Again, as another reviewer here mentions, if you are a fan of either of the stars, you also might get more enjoyment from the movie.
On Blu-ray disc the picture looks good, audio levels were consistent, background music not overly distracting.
Worth the purchase? Probably better as a rental for most.
 One of the Top 10 Chick Flicks of all time. February 17, 2008
Morgaine Swann, H.Ps. (Eastern KY United States)
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
This one is going to be a classic among women who like their romance sweet and sensible and their stories familiar but fun. I hope someone is paying attention because Eckhart and Zeta-Jones could be the Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan pairing for the 21st century. It's a bit of a stretch seeing him as an opera buff, but other than that, he's flawless. His acting is directly on point and the character is written as a hero with a modern sensibility - not quite a metrosexual, but not the strong silent type either. He expresses his feelings openly in a wonderfully sexy way.
Catherine Zeta-Jones is pleasant in her part, in that odd way she has of seeming like an every-woman character in spite of her stunning looks. You feel as if you've known this character. The story line with the sister is predictably sad and played for effect, but the little girl is a scene stealer - she's entirely believable.
Some of the antics at the restaurant stretch your ability to suspend disbelief, but it's never so over the top that you can't see it happening that way in a place much better than you've ever worked in. It's all tied up in the requisite but perfect happy ending. I'll watch this one over and over and it's one I'll make all my girlfriends watch, too.
 All Thumbs DOWN! February 16, 2008
L. Jenkins (Sandpoint, ID)
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
If it weren't for cutie Abigail Breslin, I would have shut it off ASAP.
Food, drink, music, and taking a chance February 15, 2008
Judy K. Polhemus (LA)
24 out of 30 found this review helpful
Once upon a time there lived a grown-up woman, renowned in all the land for her fabulous cooking. But as is often true when someone excels in one area, that person lacks in all others. This remarkable chef (Catherine Zeta-Jones) has a lovely sister who excels in being a mom to daughter Zoe (Abigail Breslin). As is often the case these two sisters had a father unremarkable for being a nonexistent father. So these two sisters choose to live their lives without men.
Then a terrible thing happens: the mother/sister dies in a car accident, leaving Zoe with the aunt who is a chef also famed for keeping her distance from people. Enter Kate and Zoe, struggling to deal with first, the loss of their beloved, then this new situation and environment. Child and woman, these two, have difficulty meeting on a common ground. There is no spark, no warmth between them. It's not that Kate resents poor Zoe--she just cannot connect with her. It's not that Zoe resents Kate--she is just too sad.
Enter Nick, the slight-of-hand, the guy with the charm and wit, but good charm and sensitive wit, who can read people. He is the synapse who clicks the two--child and woman into a synergy of three people. The loveliest part of the movie is the time the three spend the day together, just doing and being.
Zoe needs to be loved, Kate needs only her job, and the restaurant owner needs a sous chef until Kate adjusts to her new role as a caretaker. Nick (Aaron Eckhart), the sous-chef needs to be needed, not that he is wimpy. He is quite gregarious and fun-loving, but he likes cooperation and congenial surroundings, light-heartedness amidst an often chaotic profession. Kate is all about being serious and professional.
When faced with change, people themselves must change or remain static and find themselves left behind specifically in relationships. When Nick begins to woo Kate, he is so cool. Instead of pouncing on her like a wild beast, he leaves her wanting more--just a kiss, just a kiss. Clever man!
The ending far surpasses what is expected and I will leave it at that. Aaron Eckhart brought exactly the right charisma to his role. He looks the part of a temperamental chef without being one. Catherine Zeta-Jones is finally showing just the blush of aging and it becomes her. She plays her reserve with just the right coolness, exhibiting just a trace of passion below the surface. Any child could have played the girl. On the verge of prepubescence, Abigail Breslin simply did not display her usual cuteness, whether the director, the role, or Abigail herself.
As much a part of the film as any character is the romance of food and wine and music, much of it opera arias with some Italian love songs thrown in. As a matter of fact, I have already ordered the CD. One of the female waitstaff walks through the kitchen to tell Nick that opera is great music for lovemaking just as he said. It certainly is when Kate and Nick finally do kiss. I kept wondering if Michael was watching his wife film this scene. It's a good one.
Not Academy Award material, but definitely date fare. And, oh husbands and wives, it might remind you of that first fire of your love for the other. A wonderfully pleasant little movie!
About the title: To eat in the restaurant in this story, one must make reservations. However, for love of any kind, no reservations are required.
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