Recipe for a Perfect Christmas (2005 TV Movie) User Reviews (16)

Sweet, fun Christmas movie - better than most

[heathentart · 7/10 · 6 December 2005]

When Christmas movies are either the classics, such as "A Christmas Carol" or "The Christmas Story", or made-for-TV sugar epics, it's nice to find a nicely sophisticated gem of a romantic comedy.

The leading cast are superb. I'd watch Christine Baranski and Bobby Cannavale in *anything* - even a traffic jam. I first saw Christine on Broadway - she is a brilliant actress, singer and dancer. Bobby came to my attention on "Third Watch" on TV. You may also remember him from his story arc on "Will & Grace." I admit, I've no idea who Carly Pope is, but she's a lovely young woman with an excellent delivery.

The story is bright and fun, with underlying emotional pinnings. J.J. Jenner (Pope) works at "Glow Manhattan" - a magazine for the most cool, most hip, most happening people of New York City. She has aspirations for more; has writing talent and the ability to discern every ingredient in any food she's served. J.J. is given the opportunity to become the magazine's food critic and is under a two-week, pre-Christmas deadline.

Enter Lee, J.J.'s mom, a gypsy (dancer) whom J.J. thinks is just having a short vacation from her job entertaining on a cruise ship. Little does she know that Mom is broke, homeless and desperate. There is a strained history between them since the death of J.J.'s father and Lee's husband 8 years before.

So Mom moves in, bag and baggage, and let the games begin! J.J. (who is named for Janis Joplin, btw) now has to deal with a tight deadline on her possible new promotion, the loss of her jerk boyfriend, Mom invading every part of her life (Oh, the pain! the pain!) and she's slowly unraveling.

Enter Alex (Cannavale), a chef and nascent restaurateur who is desperate for publicity for his restaurant. A chance meeting with J.J. is the start of an unholy alliance: Alex will distract Lee and get her out of J.J.'s hair in exchange for the possibility of a review in "Glow Manhattan" magazine.

This movie is wonderfully charming and lots of fun to watch. I didn't find myself watching the clock once, or flipping to other channels (well, OK, I did during the commercials). Christine Baranski can do no wrong in my book - I've never seen her turn in a lazy or inadequate performance. (Have you seen her "Mary Sunshine" in "Chicago?") Bobby Cannavale, besides being a wonderful actor, is about the nicest piece of eye candy around. He's an extremely intimate actor; meaning that he never seems to be aware of the camera's eye, but is enwrapped in the scene and the moment. What a joyous change from all the strutting peacocks out there! Carly Pope looks very natural and comfortable in front of the camera. You can't help but like her in this role, even though the circumstances could have leant themselves to a touch of whine.

It is not overly smoochy or sloppy, so guys shouldn't squirm too much watching this "chick flick." It's light, frothy fun. The film itself is just lovely and its spirit and pace is recognizable to anyone who lives in or has visited New York City.

Chirstiana Baranski Makes this worth watching

[Christmas-Reviewer · 6/10 · 3 August 2016]

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 Movie

The film is available on DVD from Amazon.

Christine Baranski good in passable TV movie

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 23 December 2014]

JJ Jenner (Carly Pope) is the assistant for the food critic at NYC magazine Glow Manhattan. She doesn't get along with her mother Lee Bellmont (Christine Baranski) who is always the center of attention. Lee shows up at her apartment out of the blue. She got retired for old age as a cruise ship dancer but she keeps it a secret. The food critic leaves for maternity, and the new critic is a drunken creep. He gets fired and JJ is the new critic. Lee berates JJ's boyfriend who reveals that he's been actually cheating on her. Alex Stermadapolous (Bobby Cannavale) cooks good food in an empty restaurant. He struggles to get notice without a publicist. JJ agrees to come by his restaurant if he pretends to date her mother keeping her busy.

Christine Baranski makes this something passable. She does a compelling character with emotional depth. The mother daughter relationship works because of her. Both Carly Pope and Bobby Cannavale do a reasonable job. The production is pretty much middle of the road TV movie. This is borderline watchable. I'm not always sure which side of the border however.

A Christmastime Romance That Could Have Been Better

[P3n-E-W1s3 · 7/10 · 11 December 2017]

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.

Really average holiday movie

[MIamiReviewer · 5/10 · 6 December 2005]

I live for the Lifetime holiday movie schedule, and always look forward to the new movies each year. Sadly, this one was not nearly as good as some of the past winners.

Christine whats-her-name, the mother, as always gave a great performance. But the daughter and Alex were both really weak characters, and didn't leave much room for the actors to show off. I thought there were zero sparks between them. It's like we were supposed to think they're a match made in heaven just because they brushed arms a couple times, and both like books on WWII history. I watch these dumb movies because they're supposed to make you feel all warm and goo-ey Christmas-y inside. But this was just bland; Their first kiss didn't have any of the predictable goo-eyness that i expect from these movies... I dunno, it just left me feeling flat. So much so that i fast-forwarded through dullsville parts with my tivo. I never do that. Normally I rewind those scenes. And watch them again the next night. Yes, I'm a giant loser.

I won't watch this again next year. But some of the past made-for-TV holiday movies that I've enjoyed in the past, and I'll watch again this year include Picking Up and Dropping Off, Boyfriend for Christmas, Comfort and Joy....All cheesy and feel good....

PS I'm tired of all these lifetime movies being about women in 'high powered' jobs, and they illustrate this fact by making them hollow, shallow, vicious jerks. Like women making over six-figures can't like Christmas. Arghhh.... At least this one deserves credit for giving her an actual job description (food critic), wherein most of these movies just have these ditzes in tight suits, stressing about some vague work-related issue on a wireless earphone, saying stuff like "I didn't get my masters in marketing at Columbia and rise to the top of the marketing business to not close this deal"....just to show how successful and professional, and not into Christmas this character must be (problematic because first, a masters in marketing is an MBA; second, what the heck is a 'marketing business'?, and third, can we be more vague and touchy feely about women in business? Make them an accountant, for god's sake; at least that's a real job.)

A fun Christmas mother-daughter film from Lifetime

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 5 December 2005]

Christine Baranski brings liveliness to a Christmas tale about a very different mother and daughter. I liked this movie because it addresses a common baby boomer problem - the flamboyant, youthful mom from the wild '60s and the conservative, unflashy daughter. What the mother considers helping ("Would it kill you to wear a little color?") is seen by her daughter, a restaurant reviewer, as pure meddling. When the daughter is on a deadline and can't work due to her mother -- just as a for instance - exercising as she sings "The Twelve Days of Christmas," she enlists the help of a restaurateur (Bobby Cannevale) who is desperate for her to review his restaurant. In exchange for her eating there and possibly writing a review, he agrees to take her mother out during her visit. Well, things don't go exactly as planned...

Christine Baranski gives a multilayered performance as the mother, who's used to putting on a happy face. Bobby Cannevale is sweet as the restaurateur, and Carly Pope is pretty and intense as the daughter.

Underneath all the comic moments is a poignant story of intimate strangers. It's a good holiday movie with a satisfying ending, in the Christmas spirit.

Another putdown of parents by a two-dimensional self-centered daughter

[TanteWaileka · 1/10 · 18 January 2006]

I hate to sound like an 'old person', but frankly I haven't seen too many movies that I like that were made after 1960... generally, movies just seem to get worse and worse (although I quite enjoyed the Scott Baio vehicle "The Bread, My Sweet", except for the 'de rigeur' sex scene which added NOTHING of value to THAT movie). This movie makes the mother, a former Las Vegas chorus girl, seem to be incapable of surviving on her own, although she is clearly in her 50s (though hinted at being in her 40s). I didn't buy it. I'm 57 and like all the women I know in their 50s and 40s, more than capable of surviving on my own (as I have been doing since I graduated from high school at 13, got legally emancipated and set off on my own life's journey.)

The daughter is not believable in her job role ... she gets a promotion she doesn't deserve (a great opportunity) and drops that ball too, but when another female employee steps up to the plate and is ready to deliver, the writers shoot her down as an 'opportunist', when she was just doing what any career-oriented person would do -- taking advantage of a wide-open opportunity created by the lack of self-discipline of her coworker, a girl who apparently doesn't understand the concept of honoring her promises (to her boss, in this case).

The daughter grudgingly 'allows' her mother to stay with her, on a temporary basis, but then treats her mother (the woman who gave her Life and raised her to 'adulthood') like a pariah. Apparently the 'writers' of tripe like this do not understand that it is NOT 'the common thing' for PARENTS to act like children, and then be treated AS children by THEIR children. That is just more of the societal 'baloney' that Hollywood keeps trying to force down our throats as though we, their public, were stupid for desiring to be entertained by their creative offerings.

This is a sad movie with a stupid ending. If the young male restauranteur had been real and not a two-dimensional 'tv character', he'd have stayed with the MOTHER, who was not that much older than him and quite attractive. But in the end he 'falls' for the daughter, a shallow, rather uninteresting girl who has that cuteness of youth, but in an ordinary, bland way. (The 'opportunist' young woman who worked with this nothing girl was far more attractive, physically.)

There was no believable reason presented to the audience as to why the restauranteur preferred the daughter (who was an uptight, selfish, self-centered b*tch who treated her mother with unbelievable disrespect) to the mother -- a woman who was kindhearted, sweet-tempered, humorous, and had a joie de vivre the daughter could not even begin to comprehend. Of course the mother had her own flaws... she had reacted to her husband's demise by drinking herself into a stupor for a year or two afterwards which supposedly created the rift between her and her smarmy daughter.

Regardless of the way the characters were or were not developed, this is a baloney movie and a waste of your valuable viewing time unless you actually LIKE baloney. (Where's the mustard?)

Perfect recipe for a Christmas movie!

[heidijean25 · 8/10 · 5 December 2005]

I'm a life time TV watcher, so i like always watch the movies, this one was good, the cast had chemistry, and it was a real feel good movie, and it has a great moral to the story.Carly Pope was great along with Bobby Cannavale and Christine Baranski!This movie really could have used a different name I think , maybe like "The Christmas Review" so people wouldn't think its just about food, because its about so much more.I think Carly Pope may be the next big thing, shes beautiful , natural, and so believable. If you haven't seen it yet and like Christmas movies that aren't too christmasy then I'll bet you would really enjoy this one.

Wow, what a forgettable movie this was.

[bobimdb-3 · 3/10 · 15 December 2005]

Did HeidiJean really see this movie? A great Christmas movie? Not even close. Dull, bland and completely lacking in imagination and heart. I kept watching this movie wondering who the hell thought that Carly Pope could play the lead in this movie! The woman has no detectable personality and gives a completely lackluster performance. Baransky was great as usual and provided the only modicum of interesting the whole thing. Probably her involvement was the only reason this project was green lighted to begin with. Maybe I'm expecting too much for a Lifetime movie played 15 days from Christmas but I sat through this thing thinking that with a different director and a recasting JJ with an actress that at least could elicit sympathy this could have been quite a cute little movie.

A regular usual comedy - but with an unacceptable error

[tauszig · 5/10 · 10 November 2007]

This movie is not a real high performance film, but it is a very usual kind of story, which even has some funny moments. However, what makes its score lower, is a complete lack of a minimum cultural knowledge, especially about Brazil. In a certain point of the movie Christine Baransky (Lee Bellmont in the film) says that she loves the Brazilians, and especially the music of "salsa" - which demonstrates an absolute lack of knowledge of the Brazilian music: salsa is not, and never has been, Brazilian. Later in the same movie, they arrive to the place where it is supposed to have Brazilian dance music, and what you can hear is mambo and tango - none of them having any Brazilian connection (the real one would be the samba, or maybe the bossa-nova etc..). As mentioned, this lack of knowledge is unacceptable for a movie made in 2005, and by USA producers which are in the same American continent with the other Latin American countries. This fact about the film, reduces any scoring, not only for the error, but because it shows that the film makers has no reasonable cultural worries (and possible knowledge) thought working in a "cultural" environment. Therefore, the good acting of the stars are compromised by the inaccuracy of what should be everyday medium level education.

Recipe for Entertainment

[BGsNana · 8/10 · 18 December 2005]

I almost didn't watch this movie because I thought it was about holiday cooking... NOT! While it's true it may fall somewhere close to the "chick flick" category of romance-comedy-drama-feel good ending, the story was believably entertaining, the characters were well developed, and the chemistry between the two romantic leads was there. J.J. is a food critic battling writer's block; it doesn't help that her flaky mother has come to stay indefinitely. J.J. has not gotten along with her mother since her father died, and she makes a deal with a restaurateur who has been begging for a review to spark some business for his failing restaurant. If he will occupy J.J.'s mother so she can get her column written, she will visit his restaurant... he is desperate and agrees. However, J.J. does not take into consideration that she might develop feelings for this man, is amazed when she discovers how very good his cooking really is, and is forced to confront her demons of unforgiveness and jealousy. What results is predictable but enjoying to watch unfold. I have recommended this movie to many of my friends and family, and would love to see it come out on DVD/VHS.

Boring, bland and implausible with a bad, BAD message!

[Spaceygirl · 1/10 · 28 December 2006]

Carly Pope plays JJ, a newly promoted Food Critic whose flamboyant, overbearing mother moves in with her. JJ, aghast at this turn of events, then blackmails restaurant owner, Alex, to entertain her mother in exchange for "maybe" reviewing his dying restaurant. Alex predictably falls for the daughter while warming to the mother. There are numerous problems with this movie, the characters are universally 2-dimensional. JJ is a self-serving, hateful character, her mother superficial and shallow. JJ's colleagues at the magazine are bitchy and opportunistic. The underlying message of an over-50 woman unable to make it on her own, without male assistance is bad, bad, BAD. The acting is uniformly dull, the script uninspired. The films only saving grace is the setting of New York City. I would so NOT recommend this film.

Charming holiday recipe

[Pro Jury · 9/10 · 6 December 2005]

*** May contain spoilers. ***

Fast paced and attractive make for winning ingredients in this 2005 LIFETIME channel production.

RECIPE FOR A PERFECT Christmas moves along briskly. The lively, but never distracting, direction does not miss a beat. More importantly, the director allows the actors to connect with the viewer.

In RECIPE, there are more attractive charming actors than you can shake a stick at. Near the start of the movie there is a Christmas party with Tea Cheney and a wide assortment of young model-like beauties. All along, there is charm, charm and more charm.

Certainly, Carly Pope is a doll. She is a captivating lead and promises to have a great future ahead of her in Hollywood. And leading man Bobby Cannavale stands out from the standard cookie-cutter made-for-TV mold. The viewer is swept in cheering for the romance to blossom.

RECIPE FOR A PERFECT Christmas achieves what it seeks to do -- be a fun charming holiday TV movie. RECIPE is the most entertaining made-for-TV movie since Tyra Bank's LIFESIZE.

I couldn't stand even fifteen minutes of it.

[terzap · 2/10 · 5 December 2009]

I wasn't expecting this to be a great movie, but neither was I expecting it to be so awful. I hated the mother character so much I had to turn the channel. I turned it back, hoping it was just one part of the movie, but no. And for the daughter to sit there take being embarrassed, or almost done out of a job, or driven to madness inside her own home? Are you kidding me? I was raised to respect (and even fear) my mother but I'd put her up fast in the nearest hotel if she proved that annoying in MY house. I was expected to follow a set of rules in my mother's house, after all.

I didn't buy any of it. I tried giving it several chances, I really did. Sorry.

Really Dull

[richard.fuller1 · 3/10 · 23 November 2012]

While Christine Baranski is an entertaining performer, the concept of her character her is basically superficial. If this mother entered a group of people enjoying listening to Jessye Norman, she would automatically conclude they need to 'loosen up' and listen to Rihanna, cuz that is just how "hip" she is.

She actually does do this with ballet students, deciding they need to listen to hip-hop.

This depiction is hardly what I would call a 'party animal'.

Even if and when she sits and talks, she has to dominate the conversation. She joins her daughter with another couple, unexpectedly she brings in sushi.

Now the conversation has to all be about the sushi she brought in.

Even now, watching it, as she dances with Canavale, she is just endlessly laughing.

Canavale actually manages some believability as a stressed out restaurateur. Tho that is hardly the focus of the movie.

Baranski as a 'fun party girl' is the irritant. when she tells her daughter not to be ashamed of her sexuality, when the daughter sends it back 'you never were', now Baranski takes offense.

Had the conflict been something different instead of a 'carefree' mother, this movie might have been interesting (and better) about the restaurant and the food critic.

Baranski 'needing a job' but then having fun and dancing (and laughing) hints of a woman in some form of denial.

Hated the mom

[Jackbv123 · 5/10 · 19 July 2017]

This is probably a really great movie but I hated it - like minus 10 rating all because of the mom. I very nearly turned off the movie after 10-15 minutes because of mom.

This is not your typical romance plot. And mom is right in the center of it, and Christine Baranski does a fantastic job. She does a great karaoke bit. She does a nice scene dancing. She has tremendous presence.

I was expecting a romance with JJ as the star, but that was totally secondary to the real story which was mother and daughter.

I hated this movie because: 1) mom verbally and mentally abused JJ big time. 2) She gets in the way of her career and then she destroys it. 3) JJ ignores her deadline, completely. We are supposed to believe that her career wasn't destroyed because of a miraculous last minute amazing column that outweighed missing the deadline, but that was a fantasy created by the movie writers to save the movie from being a total disaster. That doesn't happen. Yes it happened in the movie, but it was too much fantasy even for a Christmas movie. I might have accepted it if she had at least met her deadline, but she ignored it.

Then the writers do the same thing for Alex. And it is just as crazy.

And what about the romance. That was what we were waiting for, but the movie did almost nothing to sell this romance between JJ and Alex. The movie spent too much time showing off mom and creating the extremely complicated plot. But the romance happens anyway. It had to.

And there was practically nothing that related any of this to Christmas.

Like I said. I would give it a minus 10, or since the worst I can give is 1, then 1. But I acknowledge that there was some good acting. The plot was very creative until it went off the rails at the end. Many people will probably enjoy the craziness. So I'll give it middle of the road - 5. Enjoyment 0 plus creativity 10 equals 5.