I am rapidly becoming a big fan of Queen Latifah. While some of her movies aren't very good, she always creates a good role. Here she is Georgia Byrd, single and living and working in New Orleans as a sales clerk in a big store. She has a wish book, but doesn't seem to be doing anything about her wishes. Things change quickly when she hits her head at work, is taken to the company doctor who happens to have a newly bought CAT scan machine. He puts her through it and finds out she has a rare form of brain condition and she only has a few weeks to live. Sobered by this news, she quits her job, draws out all her retirement money, and travels to a winter resort in Europe to stay at the hotel where her idol Chef Didier ( Gérard Depardieu) works. That's where the movie really begins.
While Georgia never misrepresents herself, the staff and other guests assume she is important and wealthy. Chef Didier is impressed that she orders all 5 of his specials at one meal, and they become fast friends. All this to the consternation of big shot Matthew Kragen (Tim Hutton) who owns the department store Georgia worked for, and not getting the attention he usually does.
I've also become a fan of LL Cool J who plays Sean Matthews , Georgia's co-worker who is destined to become her love interest.
SPOILERS FOLLOW. As I suspected from the very beginning, the 'used' machine gave a false diagnosis, and Georgia is healthy. But her experience at the European resort opened her eyes, and changed her perspective on life, to live for today and not wait all your life for things to happen. Luck at the gambling table restored her savings, and she and Sean went back to New Orleans to open their very successful restaurant. Chef Emeril Lagassee is a surprise guest.
While Georgia never misrepresents herself, the staff and other guests assume she is important and wealthy. Chef Didier is impressed that she orders all 5 of his specials at one meal, and they become fast friends. All this to the consternation of big shot Matthew Kragen (Tim Hutton) who owns the department store Georgia worked for, and not getting the attention he usually does.
I've also become a fan of LL Cool J who plays Sean Matthews , Georgia's co-worker who is destined to become her love interest.
SPOILERS FOLLOW. As I suspected from the very beginning, the 'used' machine gave a false diagnosis, and Georgia is healthy. But her experience at the European resort opened her eyes, and changed her perspective on life, to live for today and not wait all your life for things to happen. Luck at the gambling table restored her savings, and she and Sean went back to New Orleans to open their very successful restaurant. Chef Emeril Lagassee is a surprise guest.