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What's Cooking?

Play trailer Poster for What's Cooking? PG-13 Released Nov 17, 2000 1h 49m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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52% Tomatometer 66 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
You are invited to a tasty Thanksgiving dinner that will all at once transport you to four different worlds and take you home again. On the menu this November are turkey, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie -- but also tamales, spring rolls, kugel, mac & cheese, love, betrayal, sibling rivalry, prejudice, politics, uninvited guests, unexpected accidents, outrageous conversations -- and all the other succulent and spicy surprises that arise when modern families come together for an annual meal.
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Critics Consensus

What's Cooking? is well-acted, but the scenes sometimes sink into melodrama as characters scream at each other, and the movie as a whole is too lightweight and forgettable.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media A bit melodramatic at times, but still charming. Rated: 3/5 Dec 29, 2010 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Emanuel Levy Variety This valentine to the cultural diversity that defines L.A. is a second-tier Altman (or even Paul Thomas Anderson)a broad, accessible comedy that contrasts four large and dynamic families residing on the same street: Latino, black, Jewish, and Asian. Rated: B- Dec 20, 2006 Full Review Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Rated: 4/5 Aug 7, 2008 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 2/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews Rated: B Apr 9, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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alan g Good acting but much melodrama as stated. Too confusing. Too many families involved. You need a scorecard. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 11/14/24 Full Review StephenPaul C The greatest 01 hour: and 49 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ages 13 and older!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Co-starring Dennis Haysbert (FOX's "24")!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/24/23 Full Review steve m An interesting concept, how Asian, Latino, Black, and Jewish families celebrate Thanksgiving. Each family has their issues and problems surface throughout the day. But there really isn't any connection among them so the movie is a little disjointed. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Of all the "Thanksgiving" movies, this one is the most realistic and all-encompassing. It's also more upbeat than "Home for the Holidays" and "Pieces of April." I truly love and appreciate the directors vision of the different versions of Thanksgiving, without a traditional Anglo family (I already know that one). How is a turkey in four different families treated, prepared, and eaten? How do four families "bond" around that holiday table? And while a little cheesy (Thanksgiving pun?), I like the family-dynamic themes of transgenerational parenting, sexual preference, dating outside your culture, bullying, etc.) and the ending. Stereotypes are distracting, but it's part of this style of movie. Bonus: there are some good actors here. Problem: they aren't at their best (ie., overacting, forced, playing up clichés). Overall, for a realitic Thanksgiving movie, check it out. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member This is absolutely a must see Thanksgiving movie. You can almost smell the food as each of the 4 families prepare for the big meal in their own way. Sure some of it's melodramatic, but isn't that what family gatherings are? This movie also contains a twist at the end. Remember, "It's A Wonderful Life " didn't catch on at first. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member I absolutely love this movie. It's a look into the lives of real people. It's a fun watch every year in November. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis You are invited to a tasty Thanksgiving dinner that will all at once transport you to four different worlds and take you home again. On the menu this November are turkey, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie -- but also tamales, spring rolls, kugel, mac & cheese, love, betrayal, sibling rivalry, prejudice, politics, uninvited guests, unexpected accidents, outrageous conversations -- and all the other succulent and spicy surprises that arise when modern families come together for an annual meal.
Director
Gurinder Chadha
Producer
Jeffrey Taylor
Screenwriter
Paul Mayeda Berges, Gurinder Chadha
Distributor
Lionsgate Films, Trimark Pictures
Production Co
Hope and Gravy Inc., Stagescreen Productions, Because Entertainment, Flashpoint
Rating
PG-13 (Some Sexuality|Perilous Situation|Brief Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 17, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.0M
Runtime
1h 49m
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