Recipe for a Perfect Christmas (2005)

It's Christmas time. JJ works at a magazine as the assistant for the food critic. When the critic leaves, her boss gives her the opportunity to be the new critic. So she tries to find a ... See full summary »

Director:

Sheldon Larry

Writers:

Rachel Feldman, Susan Nanus

Stars:

Christine Baranski, Carly Pope, Bobby Cannavale

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christine Baranski	...	Lee Bellmont
Carly Pope	...	J.J. Jenner
Bobby Cannavale	...	Alex Stermadapolous
Monica Parker	...	Irma Van Wyck
Kristen Hager	...	Morgan
Tracy Dawson	...	Cody
Peter Cockett	...	Elliot
Garwin Sanford	...	Clay McNeil
Clive Walton	...	Malcolm Bristol
Fulvio Cecere	...	Johnny Iannides
Louise Pitre	...	Coco
Dean Armstrong	...	Reynard
Jonas Chernick	...	Peter
Lubomir Mykytiuk	...	Dmitri
Scott Gibson	...	Kenny

Storyline

It's Christmas time. JJ works at a magazine as the assistant for the food critic. When the critic leaves, her boss gives her the opportunity to be the new critic. So she tries to find a restaurant to write about. But when her mother, whom she doesn't have a good relationship with and who's a little wild shows up after losing her job. JJ can't deal with her. When Alex a restaurateur who is struggling and facing the possibility of being closed asks her to come to his restaurant and try it out and write about it. She agrees on the condition that he take her mother off her hands. Alex agrees and forms a rapport with her that amazes JJ.

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Plot Keywords:

food critic | christmas | dinner | dancing

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 December 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Smothered

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jaffe/Braunstein Films, Muse Entertainment Enterprises, WildRice Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

A fun Christmas mother-daughter film from Lifetime

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.