Can a magical crab and a plate of éclairs really bend time and space?

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 1999 romantic comedy Simply Irresistible explores the intersection of culinary passion and reality-warping romance. When a struggling chef discovers she can cook her emotions into her dishes, she inadvertently triggers levitation, shared fantasies, and a series of cinematic homages to the golden age of Fred Astaire musicals.

Directed by Mark Tarlov and written by Judith Roberts, the film follows Amanda Shelton, who inherits a failing restaurant despite lacking cooking skills. Her life shifts after meeting a mysterious figure named Gene O'Reilly, who provides her with a magical crab mascot. As Amanda begins to infuse her feelings into her food, she transforms into a culinary prodigy, capturing the attention of department store manager Tom Bartlett. Their romance is marked by surreal occurrences, including moments where the couple levitates or enters shared trances after consuming her enchanted éclairs.

Tarlov described the film’s premise as an 'Einsteinian view' of how food and wine can bend time and space based on one's position relative to events. This whimsical approach was heavily influenced by classic MGM musicals. The production team incorporated specific visual references to Fred Astaire films, including the levitation sequences from The Belle of New York (1952), the set design of Swing Time (1936), and the flooring from Yolanda and the Thief (1945). These nods were intended to evoke a nostalgic, featherweight charm reminiscent of 1950s cinema.

Despite these ambitious stylistic goals, the film struggled upon its February 5, 1999 release. It grossed $4.4 million against a $6 million budget and faced significant critical backlash. While Roger Ebert offered a positive review, praising its old-fashioned charm, many critics found the screenplay insipid. The casting process itself was tumultuous; the studio originally considered Holly Hunter and Sarah Jessica Parker before settling on Sarah Michelle Gellar, hoping to capitalize on her success in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Ultimately, the film remains a curious artifact of late-90s romantic comedy, blending magical realism with the structured elegance of vintage dance musicals.

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