Chocolat

When a red-caped Vianne Rocher (Juliette Binoche) and her daughter wander into a stereotypically repressed little French town at the beginning of "Chocolat," their intention is clear: to bring Technicolor to the community's otherwise gray and sterile world.\n It's the beginning of the Lenten season, and the ardently churchgoing townspeople practice what is preached to an alarming degree. Lead by the mustache-twirling Comte de Reynaud (Alfred Molina), the village doesn't simply refuse meat on Fridays. Instead, they look away from color, joy and creativity, anything that differs from the norm prescribed by Reynaud.\n So it's pretty safe to assume that Vianne's opening of a chocolate shop selling wares that mysteriously cause abandonment and passion doesn't meet with initial delight.\n Like Vianne's confections, "Chocolat" is sweet and uncomplicated, the perfect fairy tale. The movie doesn't exist to serve as a main course of debate and conversation about life or principles. It's the rich, sugary dessert saved for the end of the meal -- not life altering but ultimately satisfying to everyone.\n It's obvious that certain plot points from the novel, written by Joanne Harris, were hastily tied up or left behind in a sea of rewrites. For example, despite providing a welcome infusion of charm and mystery, Johnny Depp's character, Roux, the leader of a band of Irish gypsies, comes and goes with little explanation.\n Its actors, who seem to have a wonderful time portraying characters searching for true happiness, save "Chocolat." Oscar-winner Binoche interacts with just about every character in the movie and achieves great chemistry with all, particularly Victoire Thivisol who portrays Vianne's daughter, Anouk. Molina manages to infuse some life into a character written as the typical cartoon villain.\n Just like poor, miserable Reynaud, you will find "Chocolat" an extremely miserable experience by attending on an empty stomach. Cinematographer Roger Pratt pauses for many long close-ups of chocolate being cooked, displayed and eaten. Don't torture yourself. Go out for a great dinner (with dessert) and spend the rest of the evening hovering over the guilty pleasure that is "Chocolat"