Simply Irresistible
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: February 5, 1999 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
27
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews
Positive:
5
Mixed:
5
Negative:
11
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Old-fashioned and obvious, yes, like a featherweight comedy from the 1950s. But that's the charm. Read full review
70
Village VoiceJustine Elias
Scores points for oddball charm. Read full review
63
Chicago TribuneJohn Petrakis
Falls prey to the all-too-contemporary problem of complicating the tale until the ending is not only obvious, but prayed for between yawns. [9 February 1999, Tempo, p.2]
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
Both actors seem too callow and shallow to actually feel all those emotional raptures they are supposedly experiencing. This is a problem exacerbated by the talent of the supporting cast. Read full review
63
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
The result is sometimes enchanting, but, more often than not, it's frustrating, because the disparate elements of the plot never quite gel. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
It's a movie, a goofy little movie. Not so bad, but as far as food and sensuality go, ``Like Water for Chocolate'' still has the edge. Read full review
50
San Francisco ExaminerJane Ganahl
A gooey-sweet, beautifully photographed romantic fantasy…It's also -- at the risk of sounding like a Grinch -- a mess. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderLisa Alspector
This culinary fantasy is mildly inspired. Read full review
40
The New York TimesLawrence Van Gelder
It is a measure of the shortcomings of this genial, well-meaning but ultimately unenchanting film that scene after scene is stolen by the second bananas. Read full review
40
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
Though glossy and smoothly directed, this limp concoction has all the sparkle of flat champagne. Read full review
30
SalonMary Elizabeth Williams
When the enchanted crab is the most appealing character in a movie, you know you're in some serious metaphoric hot water. Read full review
25
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
A tuneless variation on the working girl-captivates-Mr. Big formula that has propelled fairy tales as old as Cinderella. Read full review
25
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
The premise was a yummy one in the Mexican hit "Like Water for Chocolate," but it's best to pack Tums in case of heartburn this time around. [5 February 1999, Life, p.11E]
20
VarietyJoe Leydon
Much like a botched souffle that fails to rise, Simply Irresistible is a bland confection that remains doggedly earthbound while attempting flights of romantic fantasy. Read full review
20
Film ThreatTom Meek
Insipid, maudlin mush. Read full review
20
Los Angeles TimesJohn Anderson
The two leads are unappealing, the story is dragged on for days and the rather random magical element renders any human factor irrelevant.. Read full review
20
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Eminently resistible, an unclassifiable cinematic leftover best left untasted. Read full review
20
L.A. WeeklyPaul Malcolm
A betrayal of all things Buffy, not to mention a complete waste of Gellar’s strengths as a young actress. Even the most hardcore of her fans would do well to give it a miss. Read full review
10
Washington PostDesson Thomson
A third-rate love story. Read full review
0
Washington PostStephen Hunter
The dialogue is fast but bad, the acting is loud but awful and the morality is chaste but unromantic. As for the food, it looks vulgar. Read full review
0
The A.V. ClubNathan Rabin
Somehow both formulaic and bat-shit insane. It's sort of a given that films in this genre won't be rigorous cerebral exercises, but Simply Irresistible is almost hypnotic in its unyielding stupidity. Read full review
More From This Movie

27 Critic Reviews

7.7 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL