Kate Armstrong (Zeta-Jones) is a top chef in New York who constantly annoys her patient boss (Clarkson) and therapist (Balaban) with her eccentric selfishness. When her sister dies in an accident, she inherits her 9-year-old niece Zoe (Breslin). To help in the kitchen, her boss hires a fiery assistant chef, Nick (Eckhart), from a local Italian restaurant. But Kate doesn't want to give up any control, and the two immediately lock horns despite their mutual attraction, plus the fact that Zoe bonds with Nick immediately.

Hicks directs this with that bouncy, bland Hollywood sheen that looks thoroughly professional, but is also overproduced and uninteresting. Even the food looks strangely contrived. To say nothing of the cast members' perfect faces, hair and fashion sense. This film has been set-dressed to within an inch of its life, and the twinkly/glowering performances don't make it any more believable. While solidly reliable actors like Clarkson and Balaban are sidelined in engaging but underwritten roles. No, the shining star in this film is the amazing Abigail Breslin.

While Zeta-Jones and Eckhart engage in likeable rom-com banter, bouncing from lovey-dovey flirtation to requisite I-hate-you vitriol, Breslin is quietly creating a character we really begin to engage with. Zoe is a feisty, thoughtful, observant child. Not only does she maintain an element of internalised grief through every scene (Zoe has just lost her mother, after all), but she even brings an intriguing dignity to the script's lame Little Miss Matchmaker subplot. By contrast, we only sense Kate's grief at losing her sister in a few extremely scripted moments, which are admittedly powerful.

There's a great story gurgling underneath the wringing sentimentality, and some very nicely played scenes wedged in between the formulaic musical montage sequences and over-rehearsed wackiness. And if you find the safari dinner party nearly vomitous, brace yourself for the film's shameless flood of climactic schmaltz. On the other hand, many moviegoers love the slushy stuff.

themes, some language, innuendo

5.Jul.07