Louis Cropa: Danny Aiello	Nicole: Vivian Wu
Udo Cropa: Edoardo Ballerini	Duncan: Kirk Acevedo
Carmen: Mike McGlone	Fitzgerald: Mark Margolis
Restaurant critic: Sandra Bernhard	Director: Bob Giraldi

Story Line: Louis Cropa (Danny Aiello) is a dedicated restaurant owner, whose life comes down to his business. Louis's business partner is gunned down by a pair of thugs in the opening scene of the film, and things take a turn for what the audience thinks is the worse. But the movie is not only a drama; it also works as a comedy and a suspense film. The rest of the movie's action takes place in this hip Tribeca restaurant which has changed a lot since Louis's son, Udo (Edoardo Ballerini), has become the head chef and has a reputation for making exotic dishes. The movie's first of many conflicts begin here, Louis wants to give his restaurant over to his son; but is he willing to make the sacrifice to give up his dream of a restaurant with traditional Italian food instead of dishes he cannot pronounce? By the end of the film the answer is revealed.

Other plots in the film include two gangsters, who the audience has met before but Louis may or may not know what their daily activities consist of. They are at the restaurant because all they care about is joining the restaurant business with Louis so they can set up their bookmaking business in the back room. Another conflict surfaces here, because the two of them refuse to leave the restaurant until they get a piece of the business.

Supporting characters include a frustrated restaurant critic (Sandra Bernhard), for whom chef Udo makes a meal so delicious, that it will leave the audience begging to dine at this Tribeca eatery. When Udo describes the meal, you can literally hear everyone in the movie cheering…this is a great movie moment! There is also a snotty art dealer, Fitzgerald (Mark Margolis), who gets his kicks by making his waitress miserable. This of course is always how art dealers are portrayed in film, which makes this a bit of a cliché, but that's fine as long as it keeps you laughing as the character does in this film. The next crisis of the film revolves around the gambling problem of the assistant head chef Duncan (Kirk Acevedo), who is in debt to the thugs who refuse to leave Louis and his restaurant alone. One of the movie's funniest moments comes from Louis, who so despises his son Udo's food, that he secretly asks Duncan to make him some old-fashioned Italian sausage and peppers.

Many interesting characters populate this film. There is the maitre d' Nicole (Vivian Wu), who seems to be confused about her relationship situation, a Wall Street stock broker who loves the bar at the restaurant (John Corben of Sex and The City fame), and a sensitive waitress who is also a painter (Summer Phoenix). There is even more

to make Dinner Rush one of the most exciting food movies ever made. The conclusion is unfolded very carefully to ensure that there is closure to the story, which leaves the audience chuckling and shaking their heads. It is truly a shame that Dinner Rush is in limited release, because in reality people should be seeing films like this rather than bad films that take over the box office like Collateral Damage.

Tell Me More About It: Plots and sub-plots abound in Dinner Rush, which make it seem implausible that all these things would happen during one night. Yet that is the point of the movie, it is unlikely; but conflicts are created during one dinner rush and the result is a mix of comedic and suspenseful fun. This movie embraces the art of the restaurant. In a restaurant things are supposed to be exciting, which as this movie portrays, things always are. Dinner Rush also works as a sort of "upstairs/downstairs" movie such as Gosford Park. We not only recognize what it is like to be the customer in a restaurant, it also shows how hectic it is to be one of the pressured chefs who are constantly moving and dripping with sweat.

The director, Bob Giraldi, has been a director of commercials for many years. His experience in the commercial industry really helps to be able to develop the colorful variety of characters in the film in a short period of time. In a commercial, it is vital to tell a story in as minimal amount of time as possible while covering all the details. In this movie, this is still an asset. With such a large ensemble cast, it is vital to not miss any details and allow all the characters to develop.

I'd also like to call this film an `'audience movie," because like a restaurant, it is there to be enjoyed until it is over, like any good meal at a restaurant. There is not a dull moment in the film, which benefits greatly from the top notch labyrinth script, actors who really get into their characters (most notably Mark Margolis who puts a grin on your face on command), and great direction from an experienced commercial director. Overall, the movie delivers on a very high level, because there is really nothing wrong in the film. It is entertaining, and as the movie develops, the audience really begins to feel for characters like Louis. So drop all your plans, and make a reservation tonight to see Dinner Rush.

Danny Aiello: Do the Right Thing	John Corben: HBO's Sex and the City
Edoardo Ballerini: The Pest	Mark Margolis: The Thomas Crown Affair
Sandra Bernhard: Without You I'm Nothing	Director Bob Giraldi: Hiding Out