CAKE(Nisha Ganatra). 94 minutes. Opens Friday (December 2). For venues and times, see Movie Listings. Rating: NN
Rating: NN
If Heather Graham chose this film in order to enjoy seduction scenes with Taye Diggs , great, but if this is the best Hollywood has to offer, Rollergirl better skate on over to a new agent.
This feels more like a suddenly cancelled sitcom – not unlike Emily’s Reasons Why Not, Graham’s no doubt doomed fall replacement comedy. In Cake , Graham plays a commitment-phobic free spirit who has to take over her father’s failing Wedding Bells magazine when he becomes ill. Naturally, the gig comes with an über-gay assistant and a notably uppity colleague (a scene-stealing Cheryl Hines ). Oh, did I mention there’s also Dad’s sexy protege Ian ( David Sutcliffe )? Wonder how it will all work out? Me, neither.
I so wanted to like this film. It’s written by Toronto’s Tassie Cameron , stars beloved homegrown talent ( Sandra Oh and a slumming Bruce Gray ) and is not afraid to reference its Canadiana – the film even features blink-or-you’ll-miss-’em cameos by Leah McLaren and Rebecca Eckler !
Alas, Cake fails the same way so many chick flicks do, telling us a character is empowered because she’s single and sassy and terrific, then revealing that what she really needs is a man to make her whole.
