La cucina (2007) User Reviews (6)

Just not worth the effort

[charly1 · 4/10 · 4 March 2008]

I saw this film at the Beloit International Film Festival (BIFF) in January. It focuses on 3 relationships in one apartment complex. After a terrible result creating lasagna, a pregnant wife seeks advice, comfort, food in Rachel Hunter's apartment. Rachel cooks while chatting with the pregnant woman about cooking and relationships.

*SPOILER ALERT*

If Rachel's character has so much wisdom about relationships and her perfect "partner", why is her partner cheating on her at a movie set and standing her up for dinner? Also, what army is she cooking for?

*END OF SPOILER*

Another neighbor is hosting a romantic supper with her lover/boyfriend. The movie covers their conversations and food preparations of the evening.

*POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT*

The inane conversation between the "younger woman/older man" is so tired. I was confused that the man seemed to argue for marriage and against it in the same conversation.

*END OF SPOILER*

Throw in some odd moments, like a man dressed as a super-hero in the courtyard or a neighbor practicing his guitar, presumably to handle the scene transitions for us and you have the mess that makes up the bulk of this film.

The kitchens are stylish, some of the actors quite competent, but the film lacks the great profundity or depth it desires.

After the film was over, the writer stood to polite applause and questions. She conveyed the idea that she felt the kitchen is central to a home and where many poignant conversations take place. She also said that some of the situations were patterned after people she knew. If people she knows speak like these characters, she needs to find more interesting people.

Perhaps I am most disappointed when Rachel Hunter (in no way an actress) gave the strongest performance. If you are completely bored and have to clean out your sock drawer, this movie would be great in the background!

Effectively a theatre production

[blrnani · 6/10 · 26 May 2022]

This was simple fare, portraying three relationships, whereby through their conversations the protagonists were able to address important relationship issues. It's not high philosophy, but it's a great date movie to get couples talking about such matters. Will earn the guy kudos too, unless he turns out to be like Chris.

A Tedious Shoestring

[canniballife-78396 · 3/10 · 16 March 2020]

Not a screenplay at all, but a filmed play - and so not cinematic at all. Words, words, words - and not much else. But, having seen two Christina Hendricks movies in two weeks, the burning question for me is: when is she going to comb her hair before going on camera? Is it a mid-life crisis? A rebellion against that lacquered look in "Mad Men"? And I think it should be noted: she's not the greatest actress. A movie made for almost nothing that is kind of nothing.

A Great Date Movie and Conversation Starter

[Quetzelcoatl2012 · 8/10 · 9 March 2008]

I saw La Cucina at the Hollywood Film Festival and it's a great little movie that doesn't try to be something it's not. This film is a slice of life about the conversations and contradictions that make us who we are, and real-life conversations don't fit into perfect packages or tidy summaries like a high school philosophy paper.

We all have contradictory thoughts/opinions/answers depending on how questions are framed. And I'm sure we've all had long conversations in the kitchen that help us figure out what we think and believe, without actually solving anything (no matter how much we think we've solved the world's problems after a few bottles of wine.)

More importantly, many of us are great at giving advice to other people, but lousy at applying that advice to ourselves.

More than simply an "odd moment" or scene transition, I thought the resident musician was a nice contrast to the complicated relationships unfolding in the neighboring apartments. He was like a non-verbal Greek Chorus, and a subtle reminder that maybe we should all stop talking so much about what we WISH WE WERE DOING and actually START DOING the things we love to do.

Great Indie film!

[lacucinastar · 10/10 · 2 February 2010]

I saw this movie on Showtime, although it is now available on DVD & Blu-ray. What a great little indie film.

I watched with a friend and we both thought, they just pulled pages out of my life! You feel like a fly on the wall in someone else's life, and yet it is like they are talking about yours. I loved it! The food is beautiful and the wine looks great. The conversation is thought provoking, the acting is fantastic, and you will be absolutely starving by the end!

Leisha Hailey from the "L word" is so adorable as a pregnant neurotic newlywed. Rachel Hunter looks beautiful au naturele as a gourmet lesbian amateur chef. Christina Hendricks & Joaquim de Almeida all I can say is their is a whole lot of sensual heat in that kitchen!

This movie is a great way to impress a girl and really gives guys something to think about!

Agree - would be great in a theatre - on film: BORING

[av_m · 8/10 · 18 September 2022]

This has a fine cast and an interesting, thought-provoking script - but just doesn't work on film - there's really no visual engagement - boring sets, boring costuming - and, well, rather tedious non-stop talking.

Aside from acknowledging the that the dialogue is cerebral - weighty topics - the characters are ALL basically unhappy in denial about their own toxic narcissism - altho the Rachel Hunter character does enunciate some down-to-earth common sense, i.e. A character who seems to have some sense that there is a whole world out of there outside of the L. A. bubble of underemployed adults interminably fixated on their own problems like eternal Peter Pan pre-pubescent tweenagers.

Ah well, is what it is - but it ain't much. :-)