Movie Review - Recipe For A Perfect Christmas

Recipe For A Perfect Christmas

AKA Smothered

2005

The Cast

  

Even though this is a story about a romance between a Food Critic and a Chef the alternate title for the movie is a better choice to describe the film (and then it's not the best) for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, though the romance is okay and it does add to the heartwarming atmosphere of the film it takes second place to the relationship between Mother (Baranski) and Food Critic daughter (Pope).  I really did enjoy the cracked and broken relationship they have formed after the death of the husband and father and neither one knew how to cope with his passing.  The only trouble being that it doesn't quite feel right and lacks in believability. Though each of the actresses is great in their portrayals of a happy fun loving Mom and a no-nonsense career-minded daughter; when the reason for their separation is revealed even their characterisations can't sustain the believability.

Secondly, the romance isn't really believable. When the chef asks for a review from the food critic she manipulates him into taking her mother out on dates, so as to keep her out of her hair so she can complete her column before the deadline.  He takes Mommy out on a few dates and he likes her.  Though the writer and director try to sideline the audience into thinking they could be a couple, they add a couple of scenes that show the Chef's slight (and it is only slight) interest in the daughter.  What the story needed were a few more similar scenes where their relationship blossoms and blooms.  Unfortunately, this doesn't happen and it makes the story and film feel awkward at times.  This could have been a better movie.

This is one to watch if there's nothing else on or your snowed in during a blizzard and have caught up on everything else.  Be aware that this is a Romance Movie set around Christmastime and not really a Christmas Movie.

I give this romance a not so soppy 5.75 out of 10.

The Film Clip

Movie Review - A Nanny For Christmas

 A Nanny For Christmas

2010

The Cast

This is an above average Christmas film to make you feel happy and full of the joy of the season.  It tells the story of Ally (Vaugier), an advertising executive who loses her job just weeks before Christmas.  Unable to pay the bills and mortgage she asks her friend, Tina (Thompson) for a lending hand, as her sister works for a top Advertising Agency.  Unfortunately, there's some confusion in what positions she's applying for and instead of getting a job in the company Ally is hired to Nanny the bosses kids.

One of the saving graces of the film is that the kids are not nasty.  So many of these types of film have the children being shown that it's better to be nice than naughty, so as to avoid Santa's naughty list.  So what we have is a heartwarming tale of a family pulled apart by ambition and career finding their way back to the right track and getting their priorities straight.

The acting, on the whole, is pretty decent, though there are a few moments where Cain does a good job of hamming it up.  I'm not too sure if this is intentional, though, for me, the film would have been stronger if his character had been straight and not over the top - as the comedic value was lost to the film.

Overall, this is a nice Christmas film that I would recommend to all who love this time of year.  It's also a nice family drama and romance, so if you enjoy them then grab a hot chocolate and put your feet up this winter and enjoy. 

I give this a nice and cosy 6.25 out of 10.

Trailer