Directed By: Scott Hicks
Written By: Carol Huchs and Sandra Nettlebeck
No reservations was a love story, but not the romantic comedy one would expect. In fact, the entire mood of the film was melancholy. Kate (Catherine Zeta Jones), the detached chef, is forced to search herself for emotions to connect to her niece, Zoe (Abigail Breslin), when she becomes her guardian after her sister is killed in a car crash. All Kate knows and understands is food and her restaurant. Taking time away and being forced to understand her niece proves to be very difficult for her as she is still grieving her sisters death, as is Zoe. When Kate realizes she needs to try harder to find common ground with Zoe and take some time away from her love, the restaurant, she returns to it to find an unorthodox replacement chef named Nick (Aaron Eckhart). Suddenly, fate has meshed all three of their lives together, but the future is never predictable.
No reservations was a shockingly somber film that really attacked the feelings of loneliness and loss. The very tangible way the relationship between aunt and niece is touched on, with each side struggling to just survive, was heart breaking. The beginning of this movie really gives off a realistic way to connect to each of our main characters.
This is the second film I’ve seen Abigail Breslin in and needless to say this girl has star quality. She has an amazing natural ability to act and emote the correct emotion that is seldom seen in adult actors. Her facial expressions and timing are down to a fine art. This young girl is absolutely brilliant. Her counterparts played by Catherine Zeta Jones and Aaron Eckhart are no slouches in the acting department themselves and the two pull off a realistic chemistry in this film. While the development of their relationship is shaky each play their character’s with 100% commitment. Aaron Eckhart is this free spirit with so much charisma it nearly jumps off screen at you. He really lightens the depressing feeling of the movie and makes for a symbol of hope for the future.
What ended up being a very negative twist to the movie was when it suddenly seemed like it was turning into a feel good cheesy story, which was not how the first hour was set up at all. Suddenly the grief stricken Oprah and classical music playing in the back round turning to upbeat tween music that inspired you to skip, except no one wanted to skip in this movie. I think it would have been more successful if it was advertised as a more dramatic film about three different relationships developing from tragedy. If the last twenty minutes of the film had followed what the initial portion of the film had structured, this had potential to be a very touching and moving film, but instead it turned to cheese and a typical awkward format with a way too happy ending, which left a really bad taste in my mouth.
Essentially No Reservations was a pretty good movie. Unfortunately the ending seemed to contradict the rest of the films feel, and while I’m still at a loss for what happened, I’m prepared to still recommend this film as a rental. Abigail Breslin shines, and the chemistry between Zeta Jones and Aaron Eckhart is enjoyable to endure. But because of the disastrous ending I have to give it only Two out of Four stars.
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