Simply Irresistible (1999)

13% of critics liked it
(30 reviews)
55% of users liked it
(44,767 ratings)

An airy romance in the tradition of classic Hollywood comedies of the Depression Era, Simply Irresistible (1999) also presses into service the food-obsessed magical realism of Like Water for Chocolate (1992). Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as Amanda Shelton, the chef at Southern Cross, a trendy Tribeca… More An airy romance in the tradition of classic Hollywood comedies of the Depression Era, Simply Irresistible (1999) also presses into service the food-obsessed magical realism of Like Water for Chocolate (1992). Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as Amanda Shelton, the chef at Southern Cross, a trendy Tribeca restaurant she inherited from her legendary mother. Not the most inspired of culinary artists, Amanda is running the establishment into the ground, until a cab-driving, Cupid-like guardian angel (playwright Christopher Durang) intervenes with a magical crab that puts Amanda in the path of slick spin master Tom Bartlett (Sean Patrick Flanery). Tom is opening a restaurant for his boss Jonathan Bendel (Dylan Baker), who wants to assure the eatery is no less than a four-star affair, but the temperamental French chef is giving fits to Bartlett and his secretary Lois (Patricia Clarkson). Enter Amanda, who falls head over heels for Tom, love suddenly bestowing upon her the gift of infusing her dishes with powerful amorous emotions that overwhelm diners with a rapturous ecstasy. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Mark Tarlov
Written By: Judith Roberts, Elizabeth Robinson
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 5, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Aug 17, 1999
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
Any movie featuring a crab wearing a tuxedo (complete with a top hat!) can't be all that bad.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Bannan i

Magically...delicious!
Kylie B

A magic crab that gets you a partner and helps you with your work?! Now that's my kind of crustacean!
Leigh R

Wonderfully sweet...
Dean M

One of my favourite Sarah Michelle Gellar films in a comedy-romance story that her main character should be a 'Sabrina' chef. I love and would watch it again because it's full of fun and magic. Hopefully it will release on DVD in Australia real soon.
James A

If you want to see a crab in a top hat I highly recomend this one.
Jason R

I really don't know what the filmmakers were trying to do with this film, but there was just enough quirkiness to Simply Irresistible that sets it apart from most of the Romantic Comedies that were so prevalent in the 90's. However the production value was noticeable cheap,… More
I really don't know what the filmmakers were trying to do with this film, but there was just enough quirkiness to Simply Irresistible that sets it apart from most of the Romantic Comedies that were so prevalent in the 90's. However the production value was noticeable cheap, which in most cases is a good thing, but not for this movie. I felt that the filmmakers wanted to do a lot with a very limited budget and it shows, including a very unintentional and hilarious moment when a crab leaps from a basket almost like magic, but if you look you see that a fishing line is firmly attached to the underbelly of the supposed magical crustacean. The film does boast a somewhat impressive cast including Dylan Baker (Fido) and Patricia Clarkson (The Station Agent). So as most Romantic Comedies go this is a somewhat original spin on the genre but kinda falters somewhere between the middle and near the end of the film.
Sunil J

I just watched this again and I remember liking it when it came out but could watch the whole thing this time around. Thumbs down. It's dumb.
Leo L

A favorite. Love the music.
Robert F

A bit of a bore.