The film has been widely criticised in UK media.
Malc says: Come on, Maree. What about chapter and verse? And how do we define "criticised"?
The three major film blogs rate the film as 7.5 /10, 65% good and 55% good. So mixed, but not bad reviews.
Here are some quotes, selected by me, from respected UK media:
“Cliche piles on cliche, but it's good-natured, undemanding
fun.”
Michael Hann: The Guardian“the absurdly picturesque town of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val,”
Tom Shone : The Guardian
Mark Kermode: The Observer
“It is a pleasure to watch two such accomplished
scene-stealers as Mirren and Puri vying with each other on screen. After a
while, we even get used to Mirren's 'Allo 'Allo-style French accent. Papa's son
Hassan (Manish Dayal) is a genius in the kitchen who eventually masters French
cuisine and falls in love with the beautiful French chef Marguerite (Charlotte
Le Bon).Hallström shoots the movie in his usual picture-postcard fashion,
throwing in shots of gorgeous French landscapes and plenty of fetishistic close-
ups of the food. The charm of the early scenes is undermined by the mushiness
and predictability with which the rest of the film unfolds.”
Geoffrey Macnab: The Independent
Basically most think the film is too beautiful, "food porn" one says, too long, but entertaining and well acted and some US critics thought it too "feel good" for the serious cinema goer and lacking in action for the mass audience. So no Oscars, but a good night out if you like food. A bit like ordering the 18 euro menu and getting the 15 euro meal . If it's a turkey, it's well cooked.
And those critics ought to visit St Antonin, it really is beautiful around here.
