Poster for What's Cooking?

What's Cooking?

2000, Drama, 1h 49m

66 Reviews 1,000+ Ratings

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. Read critic reviews

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What's Cooking? Photos

Alfre Woodard stars as Audrey Williams. photo 1

Estelle Harris stars as Aunt Bee and Ralph Manza stars as Uncle David. photo 2

(l-r) Julianna Margulies stars as Carla (Rachel's lover), Lainie Kazan stars as Ruth Seelig (Rachel's mom) and Kyra Sedgwick stars as Rachel Seelig. photo 3

Joan Chen stars as Trinh Hguyen, Kristy Wu stars as Jenny Nguyen (daughter) and Kieu Chinh stars as Grandma Nguyen. photo 4

Gurinder Chadha, writer and director on the set. photo 5

Julianna Margulies stars as Carla and Kyra Sedgwick stars as Rachel Seelig. photo 6

Mercedes Ruehl stars as Elizabeth Avila and Elena Lopez stars as Grandma Avila. photo 7

What's Cooking? photo 8

What's Cooking? photo 9

What's Cooking? photo 10

What's Cooking? photo 11

What's Cooking? (2000) photo 12

What's Cooking? (2000) photo 13

What's Cooking? (2000) photo 14

What's Cooking? (2000) photo 15

What's Cooking? (2000) photo 16

What's Cooking? (2000) photo 17

What's Cooking? (2000) photo 18

View All Photos (18)

Movie Info

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.

Rating:

PG-13 (Some Sexuality|Perilous Situation|Brief Language)
Genre:

Drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

Gurinder Chadha
Producer:

Jeffrey Taylor
Writer:

Paul Mayeda Berges, Gurinder Chadha
Release Date (Theaters):

Nov 17, 2000 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Jun 3, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA):

$1.0M
Runtime:

1h 49m
Distributor:

Trimark Pictures, Lionsgate Films

Cast & Crew

Alfre Woodard
Audrey Williams

Dennis Haysbert

Dennis Haysbert
Ronald Williams

Ann Weldon

Ann Weldon
Grace Williams

Mercedes Ruehl
Elizabeth Avila

Victor Rivers
Javier Avila

Douglas Spain
Anthony Avila

Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for What's Cooking?

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Trailer Bulletin: Mission Impossible 3

A Day to Give Thanks (for Good Thanksgiving Movies!)

A Day to Give Thanks (for Good Thanksgiving Movies!)

Critic Reviews for What's Cooking?

All Critics (66) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (32)

Full Review… Nell Minow Common Sense Media

Full Review… Emanuel Levy Variety

Full Review… Jane Crowther BBC.com

Full Review… Amy Taubin Village Voice

Full Review… Bruce Westbrook Houston Chronicle

Full Review… Susan Stark Detroit News

Full Review… Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review

Full Review… Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews

Full Review… Jeanne Aufmuth Palo Alto Weekly

Full Review… Jean Lowerison San Diego Metropolitan

Full Review… Jeremy Heilman MovieMartyr.com

Full Review… Frank Ochieng Filmcritic.com

View All Critic Reviews (66)

Audience Reviews for What's Cooking?

May 02, 2011

Great actors, but not very interesting storyline. A little too stereotypical, a lot too trite and concocted. Entertaining enough to watch to its conclusion, but not a very satisfying movie in the end.

Cynthia S Super Reviewer
Jun 18, 2010

A cute holiday movie. Wasn't especially memorable but the cast was good and the writing was alright.

Sunil J Super Reviewer
Nov 13, 2008

Definitely watchable with some great performances (sup Alfre Woodard), but also painfully heavy handed.

Joey N Super Reviewer
Jul 07, 2008

A nice slice of LA suburban life.

Anthony V Super Reviewer

See All Audience reviews