L'amour à la carte

Like each Hallmark romance, the word "nice" is the first definion in mind of viewer. Maybe, more for food, mother, daughter of the feminine main character. So, all predictable. And, in different doses, seductive. The only problem - why Joel Flanagan seems so...stupid ? Sure, Santino Fontana gives a decent work but the traits of his character are too...naive. Dania Ramirez is just inspired option for the role of Javiera. But, no doubts, the clues are Makenzie Moss and Maria Conchita Alonso.

Off The Menu is smartly told story of two people falling love. The somewhat irresistible chef is overcome by the charms of the outsider, but he falls under her spell as well. Off The Menu isn't perfect, but it plays on the basic human themes of emotion and love. A very nicely told story that couples will enjoy.

I went into this movie not liking RomComs, but this movie's charm - both leads are dripping with it - beauty, and food porn won me over. With everything going on in the country, this warm and lovely movie was a welcome respite. I still don't like RomComs. But this film is a hug in movie form.

I don't always do this but after watching this movie I had to look up the script writer. It turns out she has no experience and it shows. The whole movie contains many examples of awkward or disingenuous dialog, which serves to break the smooth flow of the movie.

Nonetheless my wife and I enjoyed the movie, we were mostly entertained for a Saturday evening at home after dinner, via Amazon streaming movies. The actors are for the most part very effective in their roles.

This is not a Hallmark movie but it follows that basic pattern. An attractive single man happens upon an attractive single woman, they experience slight attraction, then great friction, all to be resolved by one heroic act or another by the man.

It is set and filmed in New Mexico, a fast food chain with a Mexican food theme needs new ideas. The handsome brother of the CEO sister is dispatched to search out some of the best in the Southwest, for new ideas. He gets stranded in a small town and meets a Mexican lady with the best food around.

It is for the most part a very inconsequential movie but is enjoyable if you are in the right mood. I enjoy Mexican food, and I also enjoy cooking it, so it was easy for me to "get into" the themes here.

Like the Milagro Beanfield War, the scenery steals the show. .