Cake (2005)

Brilliant and touching

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Philippa "Pippa" McGee (Heather Graham) is the freelance journalist daughter of a respected publishing giant. One of dad's publications is Wedding Bells, an advice rag for those who intend to walk down the aisle in the near future. Pippa's mother was once involved with this particular magazine but she passed away when her daughter was but 13. After her mother's death, Pippa developed many of her free-spirited ways, including her personal rejection of a "happily ever after" marriage. Instead, Pippa covers such events as Spain's running of the bulls and her only romantic encounters are of the very short-lived variety. A close friend (Sandra Oh) helps the freelancer through life's rough moments. But, after her father suffers a heart attack, Pippa decides to help him out by becoming the new editor of Wedding Bells. This displeases most of the staff, including a sales director, Roxanne (Cheryl Hines) and a handsome financial adviser, Ian (David Sutcliffe). Yet, although Pippa's first efforts fail badly, she learns quickly from her mistakes and is determined to succeed. She may even discover some lessons in love and marriage that she has previously dismissed as nonsense. Will there be a rose-colored future for our Pippa and her magazine? This is a slight but satisfying romcom for those insatiable fans of the genre. Graham excels in her role as the vagabond beauty who explores new truths about her own existence while Sutcliffe is a charming, attractive foil to Pippa's flighty personality. Oh, Hinds, Taye Diggs and others also offer fine turns as the supporting cast members. The scenery is quite nice, as are the costumes and production values. As for the story, it takes a lot of twists and turns, sometimes to excess, but ends up tying ups its loose ends nicely. If you are not a fan of romantic comedy, this one will probably have you biting your fingernails. But, for those who adore those funny tales of love, this one will "take the cake" for you.

Director Nisha Ganatra and writer Tassie Cameron seem to have most of their experience in TV movies so this little slice of the industry is a change for them. Would that it were wholly successful because it seems as though both had a fine idea for something to say but just didn't know how to make it work. And again, blame the PR folks for making a cover for the DVD that not only seems silly, it has little to do with the story inside.Pippa McGee (Heather Graham) is a travel writer, a hedonist, and an independent woman who avoids relationships like the plague. The film starts with a goofus dash for a wedding in which she is once again a bridesmaid on the run. After the ceremony she jokes with her best friend Lulu (Sandra Oh) who is equally against long term relationships beyond a quick shag, and she also meets one Ian (David Sutcliffe - Under the Tuscan Sun, Testosterone, Happy Endings etc), a handsome if shy young man who though attracted to Pippa, sees her as dangerous territory.Pippa soon discovers that her father Malcolm McGee (Bruce Gray), a wealthy successful owner of a magazine conglomerate, is ill, has a heart attack, and though the father and daughter have had a negligible relationship, Pippa offers her help. Of course, her assignment is to be editor of 'Wedding Bells' magazine her departed mother started, and Pippa takes on the epitome of everything she loathes about relationships and marriage and tries to make a go of it. She discovers that Ian is her father's vice president and thus in charge of her new and loathed assignment. Pippa partners with the handsome magazine photographer Hemingway Jones (Taye Diggs), has a fling, and becomes close friends and partners in an attempt to change the look of the wedding magazine. There are far too many subplots to discuss, but suffice it to say that changes occur in the personalities of everyone involved and the ending, while entirely predictable, has enough humor and warmth to make a good evening out of a shaky story.Heather Graham handles her 'challengingly bad' role with great aplomb: she is a delight to watch. The remainder of the cast does their best with the lines they're given. This is a bit of fluff, aimed at the 'chick flick' devotees, but it has its moments. Grady Harp, July 06

Maybe because it is the weekend before Valentine's day and I have watched too many romantic comedies this weekend... but I was rolling my eyes throughout much of this movie as I watched it on the Lifetime channel today.The story is about how a late 20s/early 30s adventurous world-traveling single woman puts her life on hold to edit a magazine her father owns after he becomes ill. This woman doesn't believe in settling down or getting married; and what is the magazine about? Wedding bells. Toss in some father issues, commitment issues, single friends getting married issues.While the story had a promise of being a different take on a standard romantic comedy, it was weighed down with stereotypes that were predictable and quickly became boring. "Absent father, uptight rival at the magazine, helpful male gay assistant, danger the magazine will be closed or taken over, etc." Each stereotype was there, but not fully developed, nor the actors appealing enough to make you accept the stereotype.The main male lead was far too good to be real: sensitive, helpful, caring, honest, patient, romantic. He was the ideal boyfriend. I don't remember his name but it should have been "Prince Charming". He was so good I wondered why he was interested in Heather Graham's character. I certainly wasn't interested in her as she seemed too neurotic and self centered. After each plot point would keep the two main characters apart, I thought (for the guy) "Good, you are better off. Go find someone else."I appreciate that none of the men in the movie were the typical male movie jerks. But the movie went overboard in making everyone nice. The only tension was a result of misunderstandings.And the ending? Give me a break.I did like the music selections. However I really wished most of the soundtrack was quieter and in the background. A number of times I had trouble hearing what the lead characters were saying.Net result, if you are going to watch it, see it with your 20s-something female friends. Leave your guy out of it or his tongue will be sore from biting it.

I am a very big fan of Nisha Ganatra! Each one of her films have been brilliant...from Chutney Popcorn to Cosmopolitan...Nisha has given the audience a fresh look at making movies! I absolutely love her style of directing! Cake, not only has an amazing script, but Nisha did such a great job capturing all the nuances of it! I loved the story and I feel that it was very well played out. Each actor brought something fantastic to their character and to the story. It is great to see the ensemble come together and really play off of one another. This is something that everyone, in way or another, can relate too! Overall, a seriously great movie and another fantastic success for Nisha!