ROMANCE ON THE MENU

Australia, 2020, 95 minutes, Colour.
Cindy Busby, Tim Ross, Naomi Sequeira, Peter Bensley, Marita Wilcox, Barbara Bingham, Perry Mooney, Joey Vieira.
Directed by Rosie Lourde.

What is wrong with a predictable romance? Aren’t romantic comedies meant to be predictable, the entertainment in seeing the two characters, meeting, the encounters, falling in love, clashes, the happy ending?

And this is what happens here – except that this is an Australian film, made in Queensland, with an Australian cast including some Americans living in Australia except for the leading lady, Canadian Cindy Busby.

So, this is a sit back, relax, an undemanding experience, following the step-by-steps of the predictable romance.
Hypercritics beware!

1. Popular romantic comedy? New York opening? The change to Australia? Laid-back Queensland? Americans and Australians?

2. The New York settings, the restaurant, the kitchen, the customers? (And detailed chef scenes at the opening and the end.)

3. Caroline arriving in Australia, the welcome, the past visits, bond with her aunt, and with her mother, inheriting the restaurant, her perfectionism and control in New York, beginning to let go? The encounter with Cook, renting the house? Going to the restaurant, ordering everything, notes and testing? With Dale, meeting the staff, the revelation and discoveries?

4. The situation, having to sell the restaurant, memories of the aunt, the photos and recipes, the loyalty of the staff, the need for repairs, Cook and his offering to do the repairs?

5. Caroline’s character, in a different context, supervising the repairs, expectations for the visit, meanwhile the critics’ visit in New York? The starting to cook and comparisons, criticising Cook’s pies, their working together? Marita fostering the relationship? Caroline’s mother on the phone? The breakup from Nathanial, his not sharing her vision, his visit, and the irony of his coming to Australia in his jet, Caroline’s success? Her telling him to go?

6. The interactions during the day, Cook taking Caroline fishing, the fresh special of the day, the trip to the beach, his boat? Falling in love?

7. Beth, from the farm, liking the restaurant, preparing the deserts, her book club, cooking with Caroline? The celebration of the aunt, Beth and her organisation, Caroline proving she could cook better pies? Cook and his cheesecake with lemon myrtle? On the pier, the gathering, the meal, the dancing, enjoyment?

8. Caroline and decisions, the repairs, the supervision, the sale? Changing her mind? Nathanial’s visit, the clash with Cook? Locked in the pantry, the fight? The change of heart?

9. The decision, the inspection and passing, Cook as chef, Marita as manager, promoting Beth?

10. The return to the US, work in the kitchen, the past tension with Molly, encouraging her, the critics and their enjoying the meal? Booking for the birthday?

11. Cook turning up in New York – and the prospect for the future?

12. Entertainingly predictable?