Before going to see No Reservations, I'd heard it described through the industry grapevine as a decent romantic comedy lifted above average by the talent of its powerful leads Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago, America's Sweethearts) and Aaron Eckhart (Thank You For Smoking, Erin Brockovich). Rumors rarely prove themselves true, but in this case the description turned out to be pretty apt. 

In No Reservations, Zeta-Jones plays Kate, the order-obsessed head chef at an upscale Manhattan restaurant. When her sister dies unexpectedly in a car crash, she suddenly finds herself playing mother to her young niece, Zoe (Abigail Breslin). But when the restaurant owner (Patricia Clarkson) hires hunky, free-spirited Nick (Eckhart) to fill-in during Kate's transition, things start to heat up--in more than just the kitchen. 

It sounds like a predictable romantic comedy set-up, and it is. From the "trick" opening where you are supposed to think Kate is describing cooking to someone, and discover she is in her shrink's office to the fact that her perfect mate may be her exactly opposite to the scene where little Zoe runs away when having trouble grieving for her mother and getting along with her aunt, the story isn't exactly surprising. Then again, few romantic comedies are. But some do manage to surprise with especially good dialogue or strong moments (or especially bad dialogue or weak moments). 

Even the idea behind No Reservations is really just Raising Helen in chef's toque: ill-equipped aunt inherits progeny of beloved sister, and the relationship with said progeny softens her up and somehow brings men into her life. Describing it this way makes it obvious how distinctly female a fantasy it is--that becoming a single mother makes you more appealing to men rather than vice versa. 

But still, No Reservations does seem to be a bit higher quality than the rest of its ilk. The art direction is lovely, although though music is annoying and it could definitely lose a few scenes. Perhaps my industry contemporaries are right--Zeta-Jones and Eckhart could just have great chemistry that somehow elevates the film. There is no question that he's great--warm, charming, funny, and believable. Zeta-Jones, though, I'm not so sure. There are times that she seems to be more in a drama than a comedy--she's certainly not about to take a pratfall or mug for a laugh. But maybe that's it--maybe her bearing is what somehow gives a dignity to the film that it would not otherwise have. 

Whatever the reason, No Reservations is a perfectly pleasant movie. Not bad, not amazing. Just a classy romantic comedy that, like a good meal, is enjoyable enough to partake of, but the taste of which will fade soon thereafter.

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