No Reservations (HD-DVD/DVD Combo Format)

 

Picture: B/C+     Sound: B-/C     Extras: C     Film: C-

 

 

The small cycle of failed films involving food continues with Scott Hicks’ No Reservations (2007) and it is one of the sappiest, most melodramatic of them all.  Catherine Zeta-Jones is the chef of a restaurant unhappy with her lonely life (the Carol Fuchs script is obsessed with the dysfunctional idea that all she needs is a man) until a dramatic event has her raising a her niece (Abigail Breslin, who shocking resists overacting for once) and when she finally takes time off finds a new chef (Aaron Eckhart) doing some of her duties.

 

Predictable as an order of French Fries from McDonald’s, she does not want him around, is threatened by him and also has tantrums with the customers who insult her cooking.  The results (give or take sleep, if you can stay awake through this) is a big waste of time and you know you have troubles when the food dishes are more interesting than the characters.  Oddly, they also seem to get better lighting.

 

The 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is redder than it should be for a Super 35mm shoot and is likely a problem with the master source and/or digital internegative.  Stuart Dryburgh’s cinematography is not bad, but a little dull-looking here.  The anamorphically enhanced DVD side is worse, too soft and has depth issues.  The Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 on the HD side is a disappointment with weak dialogue, while the music sounds just fine and is the only thing we hear in the surrounds with any consistency.  The regular Dolby on the DVD side is much worse, but both have their sound too center channel for any modern film release.  Oddly, Philip Glass scored this film.

 

Extras on both sides include an episode of Unwrapped featuring the show, while the HD side adds a tie-in episode of Emeril Live!  Both are low-def shows from the Food Network and more entertaining than the actual film.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo