Grade: B

No Reservations stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhardt, and Abigail Breslin.  It’s based on the movie Mostly Martha, which I saw and loved years ago.  Mostly Martha I think was a German movie, and starred Gerard Depardieu in Aaron Eckhardt’s part.  This time Martha is named Kate, and she’s played by Catherine Zeta-Jones.  Kate is a workaholic, a chef in a high pressure upscale restaurant.  She’s intense – her work is her life.  Until her sister dies and her niece comes to live with her.  Of course this turns her life upside down, and she struggles to find that something within her to make it all good for this little girl.  At just the same time as she feels out of control of things, in walks her new sous-chef, who is everything she’s not.  He’s spontaneous, light-hearted, and a people person.  The two challenge each other – and of course, sparks fly.  Stir in some conflict, add a little comedy, and you’ve got a recipe for a really sweet date movie.