MAGIC KITCHEN

Director: Chi-Ngai Lee

Stars: Sammi Cheng, Andy Lau, Jerry Yan, Maggie Q, Nicola Cheung, Michael Wong

Year: 2004

Rating: NR

(in Cantonese w/English subtitles)

A sweet, charming romantic dramedy, Magic Kitchen stars two Asian pop sensations - Sammi Cheng and Andy Lau - in a film about food and love and finding your passion in life.

Sammi Cheng plays Yau, a fifth-generation chef in Hong Kong who is descended from a family of women with a true talent for cooking. Problem is, Yau's grandmother's grandmother sort of "stole" her talents from the man who loved her - a man who spiritually transferred his talents to his beloved, only to be betrayed - and since then, all the women of Yau's family are destined to become great chefs ... but have also had a curse put on them that says they will never have luck in romance until they pay back the injustices done to family of the man who gave his talents away for love. True to form, Yau's father left the family before she was even born, leaving Yau's mother even more obsessed with cooking - but soon after opening her own restaurant, Yau's mom fell ill and died, leaving Yau to run things on her own.

And with her mother's brilliant, home-made recipe book, Yau's done just that - but her heart and soul aren't in the cooking. In fact, she rather dislikes being a chef, but feels it's her calling. And as she's turned her mom's restaurant (which more resembles a private home set up with tables, than it does a restaurant) into a financial and critical success (thanks to the recipe book), Yau sort of feels stuck with her lot in life - as well as with her hunky young assistant chef, Ho (Taiwanese pop music star Jerry Yan), who is obviously infatuated with her.

A trip to Tokyo to check into an invitation to appear on an "Iron Chef"-like TV show changes things, however, when - while there scouting out the situation - Yau runs into her first love (and former high school tutor) Chuen Yao (Andy Lau). Chuen Yao's now a highly successful businessman, still athletic and handsome, and Yau has never quite gotten over him - even as she finds out, when back in Hong Kong, that he's now dating (and about to become engaged to) one of her best friends, May (an absolutely stunning Maggie Q). Throw in Yau's other, more sexually free best friend Kwai (Nicola Cheung) and her boyfriend Mook (Michael Wong) - and between all the players, you have a recipe (pun fully intended) for misunderstandings, infidelity, and unrequited love ... as Yau struggles through it all while still trying to decide if she should appear on the "King Chef" show!

The cast makes the film work very well; there's real heart and soul here (though Jerry Yan's obviously still new to the acting thing here, and it occasionally shows). Sammi Cheng is sweet as the put-upon Yau, and Andy Lau (as always) turns in a great performance. Even the supporting cast of Asian celeb actors that includes Daniel Wu, Stephen Fung (in what ends up a hilarious role) and the great Anthony Wong Chau-Sang all contribute greatly to the film.

Magic Kitchen is a sweet comedy/romance that's maybe a bit schmaltzy in the end - but charming and well worth seeing, if nothing else than for the smile it will put on your face. ***1/2 - Reel Cool-Reel Awesome