The cover of No Reservations tells you everything you need to know about the movie and possibly your likely enjoyment of it. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart look beautiful, are dressed like chefs, and give each other the kind of cute sideways glance that could only be allowed in a romantic comedy poster. Pretty people, good-looking food, a cute kid, an incredibly talented behind-the-scenes team, and romance - what could go wrong with all those ingredients in this movie recipe? No Reservations is proof that it's not the cook in the kitchen but the recipe he chooses to make. Everyone on both sides of the camera is undeniably talented but the completed product never quite clicks. It's missing the magic that could take a good dish and turn it into a memorable dinner. No Reservations might fill you up but it's surprisingly forgettable. Don't be surprised if you're hungry again a few hours later.

No Reservations stars Catherine Zeta-Jones as chef Kate Armstrong, a driven woman who has more than a few control issues in both the kitchen she runs at a fancy restaurant and her personal life. When Kate's sister is killed, it throws her very controlled balance out of whack, not just through tragedy but because Kate has to become the guardian for her adorable niece (Abigail Breslin). Kate takes some time off and comes back to find a man in her kitchen, the more free-spirited Nick Palmer (Aaron Eckhart). Of course, like sweet & sour, opposites attract in the No Reservations kitchen.

Directed by Scott Hicks (Shine) and featuring a lovely score by Phillip Glass, No Reservations is a well-made, accomplished film, but to what end? It's a story with very few twists that you won't see coming, which means all of the narrative energy falls to the actors who haven't been given nearly enough character to work with. It's difficult to care about Kate and Nick when what happens to them is so predictable. Zeta-Jones and Eckhart have decent chemistry and Breslin continues to prove that Little Miss Sunshine wasn't a flash in the pan, but even they can't lift No Reservations beyond something you've seen before. If you don't mind knowing exactly what you're ordering when you select this romantic menu, you might be satisfied, but don't expect too memorable a movie meal.

No Reservations disappoints slightly as a film and even more as a DVD. The video and audio are typically good - Warner Brothers rarely disappoints in that arena - but there's only one measly special feature, a 21-minute episode of the Food Network show Unwrapped. Host Marc Summers speaks to the stars and real-life chefs about the art of being a cook in fiction and reality. It's okay, but where are the deleted scenes, commentary track, or featurettes? One already-aired TV show does not count as an extensive list of special features.

In conclusion, there were far worse romantic comedies made recently (some are still in theaters) than No Reservations, a movie not helped by a lackluster collection of special features to rise above its predictable screenplay. Just look at the DVD case. You'll know all you need to know.