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"NO RESERVATIONS" (2007) (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron, Eckhart) (PG) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate Minor Moderate Minor Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None None None Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate Minor Extreme Heavy None QUICK TAKE: Romantic Dramedy: A work-obsessed chef must not only contend with a new addition to her kitchen who she fears might be after her job, but also the recent death of her sister that's left her as the sole caregiver for her young niece. PLOT: Kate Armstrong (CATHERINE ZETA-JONES) is a work-obsessed chef for a chic Manhattan restaurant who runs a tight kitchen and doesn't like it when customers dare complain about her cooking. That's led owner Paula (PATRICIA CLARKSON) to send her to a therapist (BOB BALABAN), but she and other kitchen workers such as Bernadette (LILY RABE) and the very pregnant Leah (JENNY WADE) know Kate will probably never change. After all, cooking and that restaurant are her life. That is, until she receives the bad news that her sister was killed in an accident, thus leaving Kate as the sole caregiver for her young, grieving niece, Zoe (ABIGAIL BRESLIN). Unprepared to be a mom, she seeks help from her divorced downstairs neighbor, Sean (BRIAN F. O'BYRNE), but still finds herself frazzled from caring for the unhappy girl. Things get worse when she returns from personal leave to discover that Paula has hired sous chef Nick Palmer (AARON ECKHART) to help out in the kitchen. Despite his easygoing ways and charm that have won over the rest of the staff, Kate is suspicious that he's after her job. From that point on, she must not only contend with those feelings that start to migrate over to friendship and eventually romance, but also how to care for her recently orphaned niece. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Older teens might be interested, as might anyone who's a fan of someone in the cast. Other than that, it doesn't seem too likely. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For some sensuality and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: CATHERINE ZETA-JONES plays the work-obsessed chef at Paula's restaurant who runs her kitchen with an iron fist and doesn't like anyone rocking the boat or criticizing her food. Her world is upended and made more complicated, however, when she becomes the sole caregiver for her niece following the accidental death of Kate's sister. From that point on, she tries to balance work and her now complicated home life, all while eventually falling for Nick, with whom she apparently has sex, after initially being suspicious of his presence. She also does some drinking. AARON ECKHART plays the recently hired sous chef at the restaurant whose charming ways win over everyone (including Zoe), except for Kate, at least initially. However, it eventually works on her with whom it's suggested he has sex. He also drinks some. ABIGAIL BRESLIN plays Kate's recently orphaned niece who's obviously grieving the loss of her mother as well as her world being turned upside down and placed into Kate's hands. PATRICIA CLARKSON plays the restaurant owner who hired Nick and becomes increasingly put out with the jealous and paranoid way in which Kate is behaving. BOB BALABAN plays Kate's therapist who tries to help her through her issues, and enjoys the cooking she does for him during their sessions. JENNY WADE plays Kate's very pregnant coworker. BRIAN F. O'BYRNE plays Kate's divorced, downstairs neighbor who's seemingly attracted to her, and helps out when he can regarding her now caring for Zoe. LILY RABE plays a restaurant worker who isn't happy with sexual come-ons by customers, but does comment on a sexual tip that Nick earlier gave her. She briefly uses profanity. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this romantic dramedy that's rated PG. Profanity consists of a slang term for breasts, while a handful of other expletives and colorful phrases are also present, as is some brief, sexually related dialogue. An off-screen sexual encounter is suggested following some viewed making out, while varying amounts of cleavage are present. The incident isn't seen, but a young girl is orphaned when her mom is killed in an accident, leading to tense family material. Various characters have bad attitudes, while some potentially imitative behavior is also present. Meanwhile, various characters drink, while a bunch of cigarette butts are seen in an ashtray. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there's briefly some of that from candle flicker. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some bouncy camerawork in the film, including home movies of Zoe's mom that are quite bouncy. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Paula retrieves a bottle of champagne in the restaurant. Customers have wine in the restaurant. The staff at the restaurant taste-test wine. People have wine in the restaurant. Nick tells Kate she looks like she needs a drink, with her replying she doesn't drink at work. Later, we see them drinking wine at work, but after hours. Later, Kate appears a bit tipsy, but then says about something, "It's not like I'm drunk or anything." Customers have wine in the restaurant. Paula and Nick have drinks. Nick has Kate taste some food while blindfolded, with her identifying cognac and white wine among other ingredients. Miscellaneous people have wine in the restaurant. BLOOD/GORE Kate talks of cooking a dish in a quail bladder (not seen, just referenced, but some viewers might find it gross). Zoe has a few bloody scrapes on her face following an unseen accident. Pregnant Leah's water breaks, but we don't see any of that fluid. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE A restaurant customer is acting like a jerk, including calling Kate "honey." Kate is touchy about her food and kitchen, reacting adversely to anyone who questions either. About a customer, Bernadette says that if he "leers at my t*ts one more time," he's dead. Kate isn't nice to Nick initially, seeing him as a threat to her and her control of the kitchen. Kate finds many cigarette butts in an ashtray (left there by a babysitter, meaning she was smoking on the job). Due to the excitement of having to take Leah to the hospital to have her baby, Kate forgets to pick up Zoe from school, thus leaving the girl miffed at her aunt. Kate and Zoe skip work and school respectively. To deal with an over-demanding customer who wants a rare steak, Kate takes a raw cut of meat, slams it onto his table, and then yanks the tablecloth off the table (from under the items on it). FRIGHTENING SCENES Zoe is upset with Kate and thus runs off, including through traffic to cross the city road. Kate panics when she can't find Zoe, but with Nick's help, she eventually finds her at her mom's gravesite (where the girl says she's afraid she's going to forget her). GUNS/WEAPONS An old movie musical scene shows two handguns being fired (nothing is hit). IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "If he leers at my t*ts one more time," "Honey" (woman), "You seem to have a lot of rules," "The guy's a barbarian," "Bimbo," "Pervs" (perverts), "Lunatic," "I totally blew it," "Smarty pants," "It was hell" and "Are you out of your mind?" A babysitter sports a Goth type look with dark eye makeup, chains, and a nose ring. Zoe steps from one park bench to the next without touching the ground. Kate and Zoe have a pillow fight. Kate and Zoe skip work and school respectively. To deal with an over-demanding customer who wants a rare steak, Kate takes a raw cut of meat, slams it onto his table, and then yanks the tablecloth off the table (from under the items on it). JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 slang term for breasts ("t*ts"), 1 ass (used with "hole"), 1 damn, 1 hell, 5 uses of "Oh my God," and 1 use each of "G-damn," "God," "My God" and "Swear to God." SEX/NUDITY Kate shows some cleavage while leaning over. About a customer, Bernadette says that if he "leers at my t*ts one more time," he's dead. There's talk of what sounded like a bondage film and that the world is filled with "pervs." Bernadette tells Nick that he was right about Pavarotti making sex so much better (referring to her unseen sexual encounter with an unknown person). He makes a related follow-up comment. Leah shows some cleavage. Nick and Kate have a kiss that turns from sensual to passionate, including him nuzzling her neck. It's then implied that he spends the night with her (we don't know how far they go). A sidewalk art drawing shows cleavage. Kate shows some cleavage. Kate and Nick briefly but passionately kiss. SMOKING Kate finds many cigarette butts in an ashtray (left there by a babysitter, meaning she was smoking on the job). TENSE FAMILY SCENES Kate receives a call that her sister is dead (we don't hear the conversation) and she must confirm that to Zoe when the girl asks from her hospital bed. That leads to various forms of grieving for both of them, including our view of the end of the funeral, with Zoe looking at the casket. Kate says that Zoe's father is unknown to her and Zoe. Zoe and then Kate look through a photo album featuring shots of Zoe's mom. Sean is divorced and has his kids on the weekend. Kate's therapist asks if her father took over the cooking when her mom passed away. Kate seems miffed and says that he took over nothing, and that they barely saw him. Due to the excitement of having to take Leah to the hospital to have her baby, Kate forgets to pick up Zoe from school, thus leaving the girl miffed at her aunt. Zoe is upset with Kate and thus runs off, including through traffic to cross the city road. When Kate catches her, the girl says, "I want my mom, not you." Kate panics when she can't find Zoe, but with Nick's help, she eventually finds her at her mom's gravesite (where the girl says she's afraid she's going to forget her). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Chefs and working in a restaurant. Losing a family member and dealing with grief. Work-obsessed people. Pregnant Leah's water breaks, but we don't see any of that fluid. Truffles. VIOLENCE None. Reviewed July 12, 2007 / Posted July 27, 2007

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