Inspired by Ang Lee's "Eat Drink Man Woman", MarÃa Ripoll's "Tortilla Soup" takes the tale of a retired chef and his three daughters out of Taiwan and relocates it to America, adding a touch of Mexican spice along the way.
Since being widowed, Martin (Elizondo) has raised his three daughters alone in suburban California.
Now that they are grown up, but still living at home, he gathers them together each week for a lavish Mexican feast which, over the course of the film, becomes the platform for some unexpected announcements from each of them.
Despite a few adjustments, Ripoll's film largely remains faithful to the central plotting of Lee's original film, which presented a slightly familiar yet utterly charming tale of food and families.
"Tortilla Soup" successfully retains this charm and humour, translating well to the new setting largely due to the universal themes skilfully permeating the original film.
Hector Elizondo gives a stand-out performance as Martin, the father trying to exert as much calm control over his family as he can over his cooking. Meanwhile, the trio of actresses playing Martin's daughters are as charming as the film itself.
In a curious choice of casting, Raquel Welch stars as Martin's would-be suitor, adding a flamboyant pantomime feel to a film which otherwise finds humour and drama in the familiar intricacies of family life.
Welch may be overripe, but that's not an accusation you can level at the film's food: "Tortilla Soup" revels in the delights of bringing spectacular cooking sequences and mouth-watering dishes to the screen and is guaranteed to send viewers away with their stomachs rumbling.
Tortilla Soup (2002)
