Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin

Master chef Kate Armstrong (Catherine Zeta-Jones) lives her life like she runs her kitchen at a trendy Manhattan eatery—with a no-nonsense intensity that both captivates and intimidates everyone aroun...( read more  read more... )d her. Kate's perfectionist nature is put to the test when she "inherits" her nine-year-old niece Zoe (Abigail Breslin), while contending with a brash new sous-chef who joins her staff. High-spirited and freewheeling, Nick Palmer (Aaron Eckhart) couldn't be more different from Kate, yet the chemistry between them is undeniable. Rivalry becomes romance, but Kate will have to learn to express herself beyond the realm of her kitchen if she wants to connect with Zoe and find true happiness with Nick.

Flixster Users

64% liked it

375,058 ratings

Critics

39% liked it

155 critics

PG, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Scott Hicks

Release Date: July 27, 2007

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DVD Release Date: February 13, 2008

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Flixster Reviews (22,768)


  • April 4, 2009
    I think this is one of my favorite romantice comedites!
  • November 7, 2008
    Movies about food are all pretty much the same. I have some sick fascination with Aaron Eckhart, and he was good in it. Otherwise: a movie about food.
  • November 2, 2008
    ''You bring in a sous chef from an Italian restaurant and I'm the one in therapy?''

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

    Catherine Zeta-Jones: Kate

    Aaron Eckhart: Nick

    ''What are we going to do abou
    ...( read more)t work?''

    ''What we always do. You tell me what to do and then I'll go behind your back and do whatever I want.''

    No Reservations begins with unique Kate, a short tempered chef running her own kitchen. Whenever a customer complains about the smallest thing Kate drags them out of the restaurant. When her sister and niece come to visit, they fall into a deadly car accident and her sister dies. After trying to recuperate after the death of her sister and the raising of her niece she returns to work a week later. Only to discover a new chef working there without her consent. Then things really start hitting it off! The Stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, and Abigail Breslin all provide stellar performances which have us the audience instantly magnetized to their respective characters.

    More interesting in sharper, less sympathetic roles, Catherine Zeta-Jones plays the icier aspects of her role spot on, but she is markedly less arresting when her character turns warm and fuzzy. The script also doesn't really respect her character much, at times she is made to look overly foolish and insensitive in her early scenes as a struggling mother figure.
    Aaron Eckhart seems to be playing more of a plot device as Nick, but he does it well, and the requisite sparks occur with Zeta-Jones. Cornering the market on playing put-upon children, Abigail Breslin is fine as Zoe, even though she has to be glumly depressed for much of the film.
    The usually more dimensional Patricia Clarkson plays Paula as a surprisingly brittle, opportunistic character, while Bob Balaban isn't given much to do at all as Kate's therapist but act as a bromide. Stuart Dryburgh's autumnal cinematography makes all the food look good, the stars also as a feast for our eyes, and minimalist composer Philip Glass provided the soulful soundtrack dominated by Puccini, Verdi, and Flotow arias.
    Exotic food has an intimate bond with exotic music, especially opera arias, since time immemorial. But with someone like Phillip Glass as the director and composer of soundtracks, I expected a little unorthodox numbers from the good old days along with Nissun Dorma and Piano Concerto No.5 on E flat major. Nonetheless, this movie keeps you entertained for every single minute without boring or stressing you for even a moment. It melts in your mouth like the finest quality Creme Fraiche.

    The movie in of itself is very sweet and well acted. Especially all the acting stuff between Eckhart and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Breslin is good too, she plays her character very much the same as in Little Miss Sunshine, except this movie she deals with loss. The other interesting thing is that No Reservations really attempts to help you understand the elements and physics of food. It goes into intricate details to describe various dishes. The story tries it's best to really incorporate the many different recipes into our minds. Not to mention the music, the music in this flick was very fancy-french too, giving it a very solid edge to proceedings, reminding me of a real acted out Ratatouille styled Chef affair and really it all ties together and works effectively.

    ''Kids like fishsticks...''

    ''I can't believe I'm actually paying for these suggestions.''

    Its not just comedy but tragedy on offer here, when Zoe realizes her mother was not around anymore, when she looks at pictures or was watching videos, then tears formulate in her young eyes.
    However, these moments of sadness are fleeting, theres plenty more to lift our spirits to new heights, and I feel this is what Director Scott Hicks wanted to achieve. The genre title is romantic comedy but the film genre feels confused.
    Acting is not really an issue here or a factor. I find it difficult to question casting because I find it difficult to find any fault. One thing it did achieve was to wet my appetite watching the countless mouth watering dishes served.
    I was amused by Kate's reactions to customers whom hassled her, something else that was a positive touch. I feel a lot was on display here, and a lot of little plot threads in between the lines within that were interestingly hinted at.

    To conclude, a mesmerizing romantic drama which also gives us an insight into the world of being a chef and creating miraculous dishes. There is imagination, an artful form in the shape of cooking. Scott Hicks has crafted an amazing film, which has a soul, it has love, fire and emotion. Also quite frankly is a tad underrated and unjustly criticized. At it's beating heart is what lies the most important factor, the factor being a feel good piece, a feel good film that never lets down. A film which beats us into submission with music mixed with food spiced up by the prospect of new found love. The characters make us fall in love too as we see them interact with each other and we become absorbed into their world and their ways.

    ''I know I'm doing everything wrong, but I promise you that I will always be here for you.''
  • July 17, 2008
    Meh.
  • May 27, 2008
    Minus half a star for predictability, but otherwise a great movie. Really enjoyed it when she stabbed the steak into the table.
  • November 19, 2009
    19-11-09
    "Something's Cooking This Summer. "
  • November 6, 2009
    damn... doesnt seems so good like it is...
  • November 3, 2009
    Ratatouille sin ratones...
  • October 27, 2009
    surprisingly good! Although it was the typical love story, the directors interest in the aunty-neice relationship rather than aunty-love interest relationship really set it apart from ones like it. It was actually pretty sad at times and the acting was ok
  • October 27, 2009
    Aww so good! I wish Aaron Eckhart would shave more! ;) haha

Critic Reviews


July 28, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim

Zeta-Jones and Eckhart manage to turn this film into an okay chick flick that IS probably best left for the chicks. full review

July 27, 2007
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Sometimes movies make sense in a logical way; sometimes they make only emotional sense. No Reservations makes no damned sense at all. full review

July 27, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today

No Reservations is worth penciling in to your schedule, though it's more guilty diversion than memorable feast. full review

July 27, 2007
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

The cast makes the film a warm and agreeable experience. full review

July 27, 2007
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

To see No Reservations is to see what's wrong with a lot of American movies. A remake Mostly Martha, it takes a winning recipe and adds some distinctly Hollywood flavors: It takes adult characters and... full review

July 27, 2007
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

It has the smooth, caramelized sheen of a confection that goes down easy -- but won't be too hard to forget. full review

July 27, 2007
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Though it loses something in the American homogenization, No Reservations is still a passable romantic dish. full review

July 27, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie is a remake of Mostly Martha (2001), a German film very much liked by many. No Reservations doesn't seem to reinvent it so much as recycle it. full review

July 27, 2007
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

No Reservations, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones as a persnickety New York chef, makes a corned beef hash out of Mostly Martha, the much-loved 2001 German film from which it has been Hollywoodized. full review

July 24, 2007
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

A cinematic culinary treat for those without a discerning palate. full review

View more No Reservations reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • gizemb
    November 26, 2008
    Catherine Zeta-Jones' neck!
  • gocefbn
    June 15, 2008



    I d like this movie so much because I ' mfood biotechnologust and cooking / food prepearing is my part of my job too :)
  • pavacri23
    January 20, 2008
    i though this was a comedy, but is a drama. still being a good movie.
  • Radan92
    November 10, 2007
    really cant wait to see it , sounds like a gr8 movie !!
  • sydneywagner52
    October 22, 2007
    This is an awsome movie i am so bying it
  • everettclark
    October 11, 2007
    when is the movie coming out to buy??????
  • wolverinespussycat
    September 12, 2007
    Lol i don't think swearing is an issue on this site its PORN!
  • gigart
    August 25, 2007
    Can't wait to see it. I wish anyone commenting could hold the bad language. There are children who read these reports and comments. There are enough adjectives and adverbs without using "ugly" ones.

    Thanks for the update from those who have seen it. I love this site for keeping an update as new movies come out and that way we don't waste money seeing something we may have gone to. Thanks all.
  • lahilbert
    August 20, 2007
    I liked this movie did anyone else?
  • lahilbert
    August 20, 2007
    Hello!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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No Reservations Trivia


  • In preparation for her role in "No Reservations," Catherine Zeta-Jones worked as a server in a restaurant. What was her response to the customers who commented that she resembled Catherine Zeta-Jones?  Answer »
  • "No Reservations" is an American remake of a French film.  Answer »
  • Abigail Breslin had to gain 10lbs to play the role of Olive in Little Miss Sunshine. And then she lost it all before filming No Reservations  Answer »
  • who starred in all these films? little miss sunshine raising helen no reservations   Answer »

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