I dimly remembered this culinary comedy from the late 70s without
much affection, until a friend decided to bring along a video to be
shown after a Thanksgiving dinner last year. It's a great idea. Stuff
yourself and then take a movie break before dessert. Nothing too
heavy--preferably something light and frothy. I'm glad we did. This
is an adorable movie, and I don't know why it didn't strike me that
way the first time around.
Maybe it was the horrible and dated costumes designed for
Jacqueline Bissett. How does one take one of the most beautiful
women in the world, and tart her up in the most ridiculous
fur/leather thingies. She looks like a cheap Vegas dancer here.
George Segal doesn't escape either, wearing jeans looking like he
was poured into them and cowboy hats, he looks like the sweet
Jewish boy he is, playing in Daddy's clothing.
The heart of the movie is the wonderful Robert Morely, who plays a
gleefully glutinous gourmand and food editor who between bites
insults just about anyone coming towards him. Only Jacqueline
Bissett manages to escape his wrathful tongue. I'm not
complaining. Morely is a total delight as the misanthropic
epicurian monster.
The mystery isn't much of a mystery, and the chemistry between
Bissett and Segal doesn't appear to be setting off many sparks.
But you can waste your time on far worse things than this modest
delight, filmed all over Europe. The food looks great, and oh that
nasty Morely!
much affection, until a friend decided to bring along a video to be
shown after a Thanksgiving dinner last year. It's a great idea. Stuff
yourself and then take a movie break before dessert. Nothing too
heavy--preferably something light and frothy. I'm glad we did. This
is an adorable movie, and I don't know why it didn't strike me that
way the first time around.
Maybe it was the horrible and dated costumes designed for
Jacqueline Bissett. How does one take one of the most beautiful
women in the world, and tart her up in the most ridiculous
fur/leather thingies. She looks like a cheap Vegas dancer here.
George Segal doesn't escape either, wearing jeans looking like he
was poured into them and cowboy hats, he looks like the sweet
Jewish boy he is, playing in Daddy's clothing.
The heart of the movie is the wonderful Robert Morely, who plays a
gleefully glutinous gourmand and food editor who between bites
insults just about anyone coming towards him. Only Jacqueline
Bissett manages to escape his wrathful tongue. I'm not
complaining. Morely is a total delight as the misanthropic
epicurian monster.
The mystery isn't much of a mystery, and the chemistry between
Bissett and Segal doesn't appear to be setting off many sparks.
But you can waste your time on far worse things than this modest
delight, filmed all over Europe. The food looks great, and oh that
nasty Morely!