Eat Your Heart Out

Okay, so after five minutes you know how this movie is going to end. The cliches pile on one after the other. Dumb dialog is probably more common than it should be. And some of the acting is pretty weak. But none of that matters !! This is a variation of the boy-meets-girl flick that we've all seen a thousand times but can't help enjoying anyway. It even has a great song in it. And so what if the father's accent doesn't match the son's ? When this pops up on cable some late night, and you sit down to watch, you won't regret it.

What can happen in a teen flick where there are roommates from both genders? Romance, of course! Well, don't bother about the ending because you know it even before you start the movie. However, it's still worth watching because there are some sweet moments inside. The plot is very simple: the guy became famous and neglected the girl, things happened one after another, they got back together, blah, blah, blah. Still it's good to watch this one together with your special someone.

This movie is better than you read from the reviews. The acting is very real, very heartwarming. I agree that it is another romance comedy, one of the many. But it is really a feel good movie with some real issues. What makes this movie so special? Simple, the emphasize on real friendship, real friends that are there for you whenever you (tend to) go down. They are there for you. And if love and friendship are mixed, you are the luckiest in the world and need to cherish it. I love this movie, simple.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT manages to do what few movies in this summer's theater spectrum are able to do - entertain with a well cast, tautly directed, romantic yet clever bit of welcome fluff. Though this film dates back to 1999 it stands up well in comparison to other films in this genre. It is a classy little act! Daniel Haus (the very handsome German actor Christian Oliver) is a gifted chef whose dream is to write a cookbook. Out of monetary necessity he shares a loft with artist Samantha (Pamela Segall) and ropy friend Peter (John Craig) who has many issues with relationships. When good fortune befalls Daniel in the guise of a TV Cooking/Lovelorn show run by Kathryn (the vastly under-used Linda Hunt) and agent Jaqueline (a miscast Laura San Giacomo from 'Pretty Woman' fame), his life and perception of his friends changes. He is dressed, groomed, and bedded by Jaqueline to the point that his friends barely recognize him. Daniel's ongoing family problems also disrupt his life until finally his father's illness alters his outlook and he rearranges his priorities. How that is accomplished and the results these surprises have on all involved form the end of the story.

The nice thing about EAT YOUR HEART OUT is that it never takes itself seriously: there are no ominous overtones to the everyday problems many of us face, just realistic resolutions. The entire cast is quite good with especial attention to Pamela Segall and Christian Oliver. The direction by Felix O. Adlon ("Salmonberries') is sensitive and well paced and a nod goes to the fine editing of Dan Lebental. Definitely worth viewing for a warm summer evening's pleasant entertainment. Grady Harp, June 05

The plot is pretty thin, but a cute cast makes this film worth watching. It's about a talented young cook who becomes a TV cooking idol. The action is slow in this standard rags-to-riches and finding one's self plot, but it is an amusing, sweet story.