After arriving in France, an Indian family start a restaurant across the street from a posh eatery run by Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren) – who doesn’t appreciate the competition. Lasse Hallström returns to the same kind of pleasantries that made his Chocolat (2000) enjoyable – romance, a few laughs, lovely locations and tasty treats. Every conflict here, between cultures and generations, are predictable. But the scenery looks as appetizing as the cast, conveying a sense of fairy tale rather than realism; Mirren and Om Puri are terrific as the bullheaded competitors, but Manish Dayal is also good as the young chef-in-waiting.
2014-U.S. 122 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Juliet Blake. Directed by Lasse Hallström. Novel: Richard C. Morais. Cinematography: Linus Sandgren. Cast: Helen Mirren (Madame Mallory), Om Puri (Papa Kadam), Manish Dayal (Hassan Kadam), Charlotte Le Bon, Amith Shah, Farzana Dua Elahe.
