campbell scott and stanley tucci be good friend in real life and together they make this delicious gem . tucci play secondo who along with his brother primo ( tony shalhoub ) run a restaurant name the paradise . primo be a genius a a chef but they be on the verge of go out of business so secondo go down the street to a very popular place run by an acquaintance name pascal ( ian holm ) and secondo asks for a loan . pascal doesn not give it to him but decide to help him by have singer louis prima come to their restaurant with the press know he come also . their restaurant will become famous when it mention in the paper so the two brother plan a big night with special meal . secondo invite his girlfriend phyllis ( minnie driver ) and primo want to invite the flower shop woman ann ( allison janney ) but be to shy . secondo help him out by invite her . this be another enjoyable film where food be the common component that enable them to communicate . the food and it preparation be the art of the film . watch primo prepare meal be a real spectacle to behold . he really do come across a a great chef and there be no doubt a you watch this . but at the core of this film be the love and respect of secondo and primo a brother . even when they argue it be do with mutual respect . yes and they get furious but at no real time do we get the feeling that they will walk away from one another . scott and tucci have create a wonderful blend of food and love and it the relationship between the two brother that be the key here . secondo be have problem commit to phyllis and while it an important part of the film and it not the main focus . janney add just the right touch a ann and you can understand the awe that she feel when she watch primo at work and can witness his skill first hand . tucci and shalhoub shine in their role and together they bring a very good film up another notch . this film also do a believable job of recreate the time period that the film be suppose to take place in . when people ask me for a good film to rent i always think of this one . it a real gem .