Love's Kitchen

I wanted to and expected to enjoy this but its basically Britain's equivalent to a Lifetime movie with an absolutely unimaginative story, flat romance, bland characters and filled with every romantic comedy movie cliché going.

I was actually surprised by how, well not bad exactly -because the acting and production is fine but just unoriginal this was. I did enjoy the leads (Dougray Scott & Claire Forlani) but their romance was still pretty uninspiring. Scott plays a successful chef and restaurateur in London who loses his zest for cooking after his wife dies in a car accident. With encouragement from friends (including a cameo from Gordon Ramsey) he buys a country pub and turns it into a gourmet restaurant. Forlani is a food critique and his mousse catches her eye. 6/28/14

Rob (Dougray Scott) is a London chef who is definitely haute cuisine. One of his motivations to do superior work is a bad review he got from a restaurant critic. One day, his lovely wife dies in a traffic accident leaving him a widower with a young daughter. Needing to change his life, he decides to move to the country, where a rundown old inn has housing for his family and a large pub. Not everyone is happy to have him in the neighborhood, some folks like their bucolic setting as peaceful as possible. Since the pub business begins very slowly, this isn't a great problem. Also, there is a beautiful woman named Kate (Claire Forlani) who lives with her parents nearby. This lady has been unlucky in love herself and, although she is the object of affection for a snooty gentleman resident, she shies away from attachments. Yet, Rob and Kate begin to like the looks of each other, especially when Kate's efforts to drum up business for Rob turns out well. There are a few secrets afoot, however, which may damage the future of their romance. Will it be so? This is a nice film for the ever-thirsty romance fans, like me. Scott and Forlani are fan favorites and the rest of the cast, which includes Simon Callow, are delightful as well. The sets, costumes, script, photography and surefooted direction combine to make a flick that is most enjoyable. Therefore, romance fans, get out of the kitchen, get some nice takeout and watch this in total bliss.

No it's not perfect, but something Love's Kitchen has that so many movies don't have these days is heart... and a superb performance on the part of Simon Callow, who alone is worth seeing the film for. I was thinking about his character for days afterward, chuckling.

When you consider all the things Love's Kitchen (formerly -- and I believe, superiorly titled No Ordinary Trifle), had working against it (namely the budget -- 'twas A LOT to accomplish for a mere $1M), naysayers should really cut first time writer/director Mr. Hacking some slack. It's a sweet little movie which epicureans in particular will find themselves salivating over on occasion. I will say it's odd to me that there wasn't more chemistry between the leads (they're married I believe), but individually I liked each of them fine (Dougray Scott more than Claire Forlani, but admittedly, I am a heterosexual female) and had no trouble swallowing that these two beautiful people might fall for each other -- though I'd have liked to have seen a bit more of that process so that it felt more organic/less contrived (which is not a unique problem in the genre).

In any case, anyone who has a soft spot for feel good romantic comedies will certainly enjoy Love's Kitchen. For my money, it's a FAR CRY above the 27 Dresses type schlock that Hollywood turns out in this arena time and time again. For that alone, I give everyone involved a lot of credit!

And lastly -- why does everyone hate on Gordon Ramsay? It's a cameo part perfect for a famous chef at the top of his game which any new director would be a fool not to seize upon!

Rob Haley (Dougray Scott) is a successful chef in London left heartbroken when his wife is killed in a car accident. His restaurant 'The World's End' suffers a deadly review and business dries up. His friend Gordon Ramsay is horrified at his state. Rob visits the sleepy country pub that his wife was going to buy and meets American food critic Kate Templeton (Claire Forlani). She's moved back in with her English father estrange since she was 12 after the failure of her relationship. He rediscovers the love of food, gathers up a couple of his old kitchen crew, and buys the rundown pub. It's a horribly slow start. Then Kate tries his food. Food critic Guy Witherspoon (Simon Callow) comes by.

I really hate the Gordon Ramsay cameo. It takes me completely out of the movie. This is a simple predictable rom-com. I'm not railing against rom-com clichés. They're clichés for a reason. For a foodie rom-com, this needs much more food porn. Personally I love the visual delights of food porn. That's the one element missing here. The leads are perfectly lovely. The evil people are perfectly douche like. The little girl should be younger and cuter. It's not aiming for much and that's what it does.

This a treat of a movie about... well, treats, actually. A straightforward script flows lightly and easily through a lovely British country-side, with leads who are having a ball and congenial supporting actors.

Dougray Scott is perfect as a romantic leading man, his Scottish brawl adding a lot to his appeal. Claire Forlani is stunningly beautiful and warm, which is a rare combination. And Simon Callow is Simon Callow.

What more can one ask for? Some weight possibly, more drama, more poignant villains? Yes, this could be a requirement. There is not much of this here, no suspense or action or tension in this movie.

Then again: life flowing like a nice, quiet river can be lovely to watch every once in a while.