Eat with Me

This movie was really bad. Not the worst movie I'd ever seen, but a waste of time nonetheless and infuriating to watch. Here are the reasons I hated it: - Acting. Some of the most inexpressive faces and bodies ever seen on the silver screen. No believability to the characters. You really felt they were "only pretending". The best actor of the group, to me, was the character Maureen. - Dialogue. I think a high school student could have written the dialogue. - Cinematography. Completely uninteresting way to film a movie. The angles and shots felt like they were taken by any random person simply holding up a video camera. - Predictable storyline. Slow pacing of movie. Overall, thoroughly unenjoyable to me - I also find the existing 8.3 rating on IMDb highly, highly suspect.

Eat With Me had been in my recommendations on Netflix for ages, so finally I decided to watch it. I watch quite a few of the LGBT films on Netflix as I am a member of that community so it is nice to see it represented on film once in a while.

However, I found this film just boring. Very little really happens, and when it does its so random it doesn't look or feel realistic. It feels like a plot point.

The relationship between Elliot and his mother was quite sweet to watch as they reconnected with each other, and there is one hilarious scene where the mother Emma, ends up accidentally taking drugs with the nextdoor neighbour.

On to the gay relationship part of the movie, the love interest, Ian, was just terrible terrible terrible - bland and clichéd. Whoever the actor is, his name fails me now he left so little impression, delivered his lines like something from a local amateur dramatic society play. Wooden, and like he was directly reading off a page from the script. There was very little development of the relationship between Elliot and Ian, and because there was no real timeline to follow you couldn't really tell how far along they were supposed to be. Neither did I really care by the end of it.

The movie comes to a fairly abrupt and unsatisfying ending that doesn't really tie up any loose ends from what plot there was.

To sum up, a dull distraction. Something to watch when you have nothing else to.

Okay IMDb you need to fix your rating system. It's a very sweet down to earth life film that doesn't try to be anything more than it is. It has very funny moments and awkward ones. You will enjoy it a lot more if you don't put everything under the microscope.

Shannon Omi played the role very well and it was very impressive to see an older Asian woman as the main character. I enjoyed watching Emma's journey of discovering/reinventing herself and breaking stereotypes as an Asian woman. Overall it was well developed with solid characters and good watch for anyone who wants to try something outside the mainstream.

From the title, I wasn't expecting so much from this movie. I wonder if it would have been more popular with a different title.

But once inside the movie, I really, REALLY liked it! The movie is about relationships, and about growth. A mom, whose relationship with her husband has gone stale and lifeless. A son, who is gay, running a failing restaurant he inherited from his uncle. A neighbor who is kookie and free-wheeling. And a guy who has an interest in the restaurant owner.

Everyone is struggling with their relationships, and growing a bit in the process. I thought that film was a real charmer. I thought Sharon Omi as the mother was absolutely TERRIFIC. Her emotions are so subtly transmitted, but unmistakable. She is an excellent actress for this role. And Teddy Chen Culver was excellent, and yeah, cute too.

There are some compromising scenes that push the mom to the wall - like realizing that her gay son is actually shacking up with people. But there are lessons to be learned by everyone, when they are given the space to grow.

The film doesn't hit you over the head by over-explaining. It respects its audience enough to let you interpret. Just one example is an opening scene where the husband/dad complains about a wedding ring giving him a headache. The next is a scene of the mom on a train. It didn't need any drama in between to let us know what was happening, and why. A little transmits a lot when it's done right.

It's a sweet, SWEET film, and I thought t he ending was perfect! The little box of sweets at the end, in case anyone wanted dessert, was just charming - if one took notice of mom's comment about the bakery she liked to visit! And so was the sriracha! Delightful ending.

I could feel the dopamine flowing as I was watching this movie.

I saw this film at Frameline 38 in San Francisco on June 26, 2014 at 4 pm at the magnificent Castro Theater. This is the funniest movie I have seen in years. Outstanding performances from Sharon Omi and Teddy Chen Culver as Mom and Son - who have no idea how to communicate with each other. Mom leaves Dad (because they don't know how to communicate with each other) moves in with Son and wackiness happens. Nicole Sullivan is the free spirited next door neighbor who steals every scene she is in. David Au's writing is brilliant and Nicole's comedic delivery and timing is perfect. George Takai makes a wonderful appearance and there are some dumplings thrown in the mix. This is a fabulous, fun, family film with food and everyone should see it. I saw 25 films at Frameline this year and this was my favorite.