It's fun to read other reviews here of a film because sometimes someone goes waaaaaaaaaaaaaay over the top, or should I say waaaaaaaaaaaaaay under the bottom. This film is, as I said in my title, a "decent little fantasy". It's not a great movie. It's not a bad movie. If you like romance movies, this is rather pleasant.The biggest complaint I have is all the men who were lusting after Penelope Cruz. Now Cruz is attractive, but not THAT voluptuous.As for the rest of the film, it moves along at a leisurely pace, with a minor criticism of why did she ultimately need the magic...just go tell her ex-husband that she still loved him. Oh, but then that wouldn't be a fantasy...and that's the point of the film.I enjoyed Penélope Cruz here as a sensual chef. Murilo Benício was satisfactory as her husband. Harold Perrineau Jr. was certainly interesting as a trans. And Mark Feuerstein as a potential love interest was "okay". Again, nothing great, nothing bad in terms of acting.So despite what one of our reviewers said who gave the film the lowest rating possible, I'll give it a weak "7". It just depends on your taste in movies.

This was her first American movie and it bottles up all her future career: The story is about a Latin girl coming to the states where she will find fame but it's only with her roots that she will find happiness and love. I don't know if Penelope had this insight of how personal this movie could be but it adds surely a great flavor, all the more than the movie is also a bit mystic(by the way, the divinity looks like the Starbucks icon!). Personally, I don't feel ties with Latin cultures (spanish or Brazilian) but as I'm a great fan of Penelope, I'm open to where she goes. It's great to hear her cute English accent and she was sweet playing a torn wife without aggressiveness. All the cast and production draws in the modern fairytale. In conclusion, not a masterpiece but a good recipe!

i have watched this movie about 10 times!! its really Fantastic.i have done the same to my husband just like Isabella to her husband in the film!!hope you see the real passion and love in this movie. sandy.b. please don't judge a book by it's cover ! you need to see it about 5 times to like the film.trust me.the most important message it has ,is that she tries to walk away fro her true love but she cant.she even goes to the voodoo lady, and still then she regrets that.And of course her husband.....OMG!!!!he is so sexy,so nice .the music and the food are amazing!!i haven't tried to cook what she cooked in the movie ,but only because i,m scared ti wold be to spicy for me.

This started off very well....really well...and slowly got stupid, very stupid. The film is a fantastic vehicle, however, for Penelope Cruz to show us her beauty. The two men chasing her are all right, neither one particularly annoying.The annoying part isn't the actors, it's the script. In this story, you can pray - and get a positive response - to the "sea goddess" - while other ridiculous curses and superstitions abound. Also, a lead character in here - portrayed as perfectly normal - is a transvestite. Despite these strange doings, the film has charm and beautiful, bold colors to it. If only the story wasn't so stupid.