Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 05/25/2004 Run time: 109 minutes Rating: Pg13

At first glance, What's Cooking? looks like it was dreamed up by some politically correct screenwriting committee: a series of overlapping stories that intercut among four families (one Hispanic, one Vietnamese, one African American, one Jewish) all preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. But what could be toothless and smarmy is made gripping and genuinely affecting by a mixture of observant writing, fluid direction, and a truly superb ensemble of actors, including Mercedes Ruehl, Alfre Woodard, Joan Chen, Julianna Margulies, Kyra Sedgewick, Dennis Haysbert, and a host of less well known but just as capable others. The script is a marvel of orchestration: small annoyances blossom into fierce conflicts, secrets are deftly revealed, and sanctimoniousness is subtly punctured. The acute but sympathetic portrait of family stress and tension is layered with quiet observations about race and class, as well as the capacity for tolerance and forgiveness. It's recently become a cliché to have characters express themselves through food (examples include Soul Food, Big Night, and Eat Drink Man Woman), but What's Cooking? turns food into a witty exploration of culture as everyone prepares their turkeys in entertainingly different ways--this is not a movie to watch on an empty stomach. Warm without false sentiment, What's Cooking? is deeply enjoyable. --Bret Fetzer

I was looking for a Thanksgiving movie with comedy, since I have only 2 comedy movies for Thanksgiving. I was very disappointed in this movie. I love the different cultural ways people celebrate Thanksgiving dinner in America, but this movie should be a drama more than anything. It showed how society has changed families from a kid keeping a gun for a friend in his house, lesbians having kids, etc. I would not suggest anyone to buy this movie that has not already seen it and also not suggest to buy it, if they want a comedy. This movie has no comedy in it.

I absolutely loved this movie! It's little different than average Hollywood produce. I believe it's because it was directed by non-Hollywood director. Funny, dramatic, and amazingly realistic. Great casting and superb acting!

This film reminds me of a comment my son said, "Food is the unifying factor". In "What's Cooking?", 4 different families are shown preparing a Thanksgiving meal, getting together, and learning new information about each other. The ensemble of actors depicts each home's event so realistically that you cheer for Mercedes Ruehl as she moves forward after her husband's infidelity; you hope that Alfre Woodard will accept her husband's attempt to get back together; you praise Kyra and Juliana in their decision to have a baby; and you want to knock some sense into Joan Chen to value her daughter more than she does. The cinematography is outstanding: it makes me want to partake in the meal. I loved this film and would recommend it to others because of the struggles, the joy, the challenges and the love all families face - one day in the lives of four families. Well done!!

This is a good movie to watch with your kids (teens). It's family oriented and uses some important social lessons. Behind the actual "lesson/moral" of the movie, is a warm family driven feature with decent acting.

MOVIE WAS FANTASTIC...QUALITY WAS FANTASTIC...IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE SHOPPING WITH AMAZON...NEVER DISAPPOINTED...AND WILL ALWAYS BE A CUSTOMER