Recipe for a Perfect Christmas

2005

Comedy

7
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 38%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 38% · 50 ratings
IMDb Rating 6.4/10 10 1007 1K

cooking christmas

Plot summary

The holiday season is turned upside down for a neophyte food critic JJ (Pope) when her uninhibited mother (Baranski) shows up unannounced. In an attempt to occupy her mom's time, JJ works out a deal with a young chef (Cannavale) that stirs up some matters of the heart.

Director

Sheldon Larry Photo
Sheldon Larry

Top cast

Monica Parker Photo
Monica Parker as Irma Van Wyck
Carly Pope Photo
Carly Pope as J.J. Jenner
Fulvio Cecere Photo
Fulvio Cecere as Johnny Iannides
Christine Baranski Photo
Christine Baranski as Lee Bellmont
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
813.25 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 28 min
Seeds 2
1.47 GB
1920*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 28 min
Seeds 3

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by S1rr34l 7 / 10

A Christmastime Romance That Could Have Been Better

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 is 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.
Reviewed by Christmas-Reviewer 6 / 10

Chirstiana Baranski Makes this worth watching

Okay finished watching last night "Recipe for a Perfect Christmas". I love Chirstiana Baranski and her talents were not wasted.In this film: A newly appointed food critic finds her life turned upside down when her uninhibited mother arrives announced at Christmas. Desperate to offload her, she enlists the help of a young chef, with surprising results. Bobby Cannavale co stars. The film is very predictable but CB brings such a depth to her role that you will find yourself enjoying the film despite the fact that it is very predictable. CB does makes this film rise above the Average Television-Christmas MovieThe film is available on DVD from Amazon.
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