No Reservations (2007)

Director:

Scott Hicks

Writers (WGA):

Carol Fuchs (screenplay)
Sandra Nettelbeck (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 July 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Something's Cooking This Summer

Plot:

The life of a top chef changes when she becomes the guardian of her young niece.

Plot Keywords:

Restaurant | Chef | Kitchen | Guardian | Taste

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Catherine Zeta-Jones	...	Kate
Aaron Eckhart	...	Nick
Abigail Breslin	...	Zoe
Patricia Clarkson	...	Paula
Jenny Wade	...	Leah
Bob Balaban	...	Therapist
Brian F. O'Byrne	...	Sean
Lily Rabe	...	Bernadette
Eric Silver	...	John
Arija Bareikis	...	Christine
John McMartin	...	Mr. Peterson
Celia Weston	...	Mrs. Peterson
Zoë Kravitz	...	Charlotte
Matthew Rauch	...	Ken
Dearbhla Molloy	...	Anna

Also Known As:

Mostly Martha (USA) (working title)
Untitled Scott Hicks Film (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some sensuality and language.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:PG | UK:PG | Finland:K-3 | Portugal:M/6 | Germany:o.Al. | South Africa:A | Denmark:A | Netherlands:AL | South Korea:All | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | USA:PG (certificate #43219) | Argentina:Atp | Brazil:Livre | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Basel-Stadt) | Sweden:Btl | Hong Kong:I | Taiwan:GP | Philippines:G

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

The Dolcetto wine mentioned in the restaurant during the early part of the film is said to have come from the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. This is the homeland of the film's director Scott Hicks who is also a wine-maker when he is not making films. The wine mentioned is in fact the director's own wine label from his winery Yacca Paddock Vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the little girl runs away - and Nick and Kate are driving in Nick's truck - there is a scene where he is driving from the right (English) rather than the left. (This is due to a flipped shot.)

Quotes:

Therapist: Kids like fishsticks...
Kate: I can't believe I'm actually paying for these suggestions.

Movie Connections:

Features Operation: Rabbit (1952)

Soundtrack:

Truffles and Quail

No Reservations About "No Reservations"

"No Reservations" is not a great film, nor does it pretend to be. It is very predictable and follows the formula used in countless other movies. Despite that, it give you everything you want from this type of film and is better than many of the sequels that have come out this year.

Catherine Zeta Jones is as beautiful as ever. There is a nice dose of Verdi and Puccini opera arias, and Abigail Breslin steals the film like she did with "Little Miss Sunshine." I have not liked Aaron Eckert in the past, but in this film he brings happiness to the otherwise dour Zeta Jones.

Some of the professional critics said they like the original German film "Mostly Martha" better, but I thought that "No reservations" improved on the original in every possible way. The only valid criticism I could find was that Catherine Zeta Jones is too beautiful to be believable as a lonely chef. That is a flaw I can live with.

If you are looking for a break from the so-called Summer "action" films, "No Reservations" is not very original, but it certainly fits the bill. The only drawback is that you will definitely leave the theater feeling really hungry for good food.