What's Cooking? (2000)

52% of critics liked it
(66 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(1,433 ratings)

Kenyan-born, London-educated Indian filmmaker Gurinder Chadha follows up on her debut hit Bhaji on the Beach (1994) with this gentle look at multiculturalism in Los Angeles. The film details the lives of four ethnically diverse families -- black, Latino, Jewish, and Asian -- during one frantic… More Kenyan-born, London-educated Indian filmmaker Gurinder Chadha follows up on her debut hit Bhaji on the Beach (1994) with this gentle look at multiculturalism in Los Angeles. The film details the lives of four ethnically diverse families -- black, Latino, Jewish, and Asian -- during one frantic Thanksgiving. The film opens with Ronald (Dennis Haysbert), an African-American who works as a spin doctor for the Republican politico; he and his wife Audrey (Alfre Woodard) are in the midst of preparing for their white dinner guests. Meanwhile, at the Latino household, young Anthony Avila (Douglas Spain) invites his womanizing father for Thanksgiving dinner, unbeknownst to his schoolteacher mother Elisabeth (Mercedes Ruehl). At the same time, the Seeling family is confronted with their daughter Rachel's (Kyra Sedwick) lesbianism, when she brings home her lover Carla (Julianna Margulies). Finally, Vietnamese immigrant Trinh Nguyen (Joan Chen) struggles to understand her Americanized children after she discovers condoms in her eldest daughter's jacket and a gun in her son's room. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Gurinder Chadha
Written By: Gurinder Chadha, Paul Mayeda Berges
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 20, 2000 Limited
On DVD: Apr 10, 2001
Studio: Trimark Pictures

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
This valentine to the cultural diversity that defines L.A. is a second-tier Altman (or even Paul Thomas Anderson)a broad, accessible comedy that contrasts four large and dynamic families residing on the same street: Latino, black, Jewish, and Asian.
Ernest Hardy, Film.com
The film collapses under the weight of stereotypes and a hackneyed concept.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Chadha juggles her characters so deftly that we never get tired of any of them and eagerly look forward to returning to each table as her camera jumps around.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
It wears both its heart and its politics too obviously on its sleeve for comfort.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Because the stories are so skillfully threaded together, the movie doesn't feel like an exercise: Each of the stories stands on its own.
Ty Burr, Entertainment Weekly
Like the meal itself, the movie's both filling and familiar.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
A bit melodramatic at times, but still charming.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
A feast for the eyes along with the appetite, What's Cooking is a tragi-comic culinary surprise.
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
Offhand, if you're looking for an interesting take on families that's a decent ensemble piece, you could do a lot worse than this entry.
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
This is a terrific holiday film.
Frank Ochieng, Filmcritic.com
A flavorless fable that is as hard to swallow as a piece of tough turkey.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

Great actors, but not very interesting storyline. A little too stereotypical, a lot too trite and concocted. Entertaining enough to watch to its conclusion, but not a very satisfying movie in the end.
Joey N

Definitely watchable with some great performances (sup Alfre Woodard), but also painfully heavy handed.
Sunil J

A cute holiday movie. Wasn't especially memorable but the cast was good and the writing was alright.
Anthony V

A nice slice of LA suburban life.
Leo L

Great movie! Love it!