Bon Appétit-ish

I should tell you this review has been prepared five months after I first sampled No Reservations (a remake of the 2002, German-language Mostly Martha) back in February, at a very rich, very special screening during the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

You know…just so you know what’s going in it.

The movie follows the turnaround in Kate Armstrong’s life, a top chef played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, after she’s assigned to the care of her niece Zoe (Abigail Breslin) following the car crash that claimed the little girl’s mother.

The thing is Kate is not a kid person – she’s a kitchen person – so she’ll have to adapt to a very different lifestyle, and use her talents in many creative ways to keep herself and Zoe from falling.

This means learning to make fish sticks instead of elaborate whole fish plates, and taking time off work – which also means she won’t take an immediate liking to Nick Palmer, the sous-chef brought in to help out played by Aaron Eckhart.

Cleverly titled to preview the changes that begin to occur in Kate – who goes from controlling to…a little less so – the movie is an exotic entry in the summer lineup; a dramedy that’s entertaining, yet oft-predictable.

Zeta-Jones’ turn as the guarded, tightly wound Kate is a bit overcooked, but Eckhart’s compliments her with a robust flair of much-needed easy-does-it in both life and love.

His Nick was the perfect side dish of take-a-chance Kate needed to really thrive.

However, like a meal I anticipated so much I could smell it, No Reservations left me wanting more. For a romantic comedy, the movie felt too heavy at times; for a drama, often too light. A touch of more focus would’ve been ideal.

All the ingredients are there, but they’re not mixed perfectly.

I don’t expect No Reservations to be sent back by audiences, for the movie is…the movie is just fine. But it’s not that hearty.

My Rating **1/2

Photo: Warner Bros.