No Reservations (2007) - film review

No Reservations is an American romantic film drama first released in 2007, directed by Scott Hicks.  The film stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson and Jenny Wade.  Our overall rating for this film is: good.

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Though it’s not the greatest film in the world, it never pretends to be that. It’s a romantic comedy you may have seen thousands of times before and the style can be quite pedestrian.  In spite of these minor imperfections, No Reservations still has plenty to offer in its genre and it exceeds at many levels where the average romantic comedy has failed over the years.
 
Catherine Zeta-Jones is as beautiful as she’s never been before. If you are an opera guru there is some elegant Verdi and Puccini played in the background for your listening pleasures and Abigail Breslin is once again stealing our hearts as she did in Little Miss Sunshine.  Even if you’re not a fan of Aaron Eckhart, you have to like the way he delivers happiness and compassion to the otherwise tacit Zeta-Jones.
      
Many critics have compared this film to the 2001 remake of the German film Mostly Martha, liking the original better, but I thought No Reservations stands on its own here.   If I am to criticize one thing here it is that I thought Zeta-Jones was too beautiful-looking to play an anti-social work-obsessed chef. But I won’t lose sleep over that.

If you are trying to find a summer movie with no mindless action in it, then I recommend No Reservations.  Though lacking in anything original, it’s still one not to miss out.  One note of precaution, after the credits roll, don’t be surprised if you get hungry... Rating: 4 stars.

© Eric, Montreal, Canada 2008

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