Mostly Martha MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: +2 1/2

Temperamental and self-absorbed Marthas (Martina Gedeck) one-dimensional life revolves around her job as the chef at an exclusive German restaurant. At her weekly sessions with her psychotherapist, Martha recites recipes for mouth-watering sauces, pastries and exotic entrees. Her joyless but secure world comes crashing down when she becomes the ward of her 8-year-old niece Lina (Maxine Foerste), whose mother is killed in an automobile crash, and her boss hires another chef, Italian Mario (Sergio Castellitto). Protecting her turf at work while dealing with a grieving, rebellious little girl forces Martha to reach out in ways she never dreamed. MOSTLY MARTHA is anything but one-dimensional. Its funny, romantic and touching. Dont let the German dialogue with English subtitles turn you away from a delightful cream puff of a movie.

MOSTLY MARTHA is a love story between a woman and child as well as a man and a woman. Mario becomes the catalyst for Martha and Lina to bond, telling Martha that Lina needs a family. His outgoing warmth and understanding slowly breaks down the girls animosity towards Martha and school. Martha realizes how much her niece means to her when Linas biological father appears. Although Mario and Martha develop a loving relationship, there is no sex or groping, only tender kisses. Marthas intolerance for criticism of her cooking at the restaurant sometimes escalates into rude shouting. Once she even yanks the tablecloth off a diners table, spilling food everywhere when the customer complains the meat isnt rare enough. With no obscenities, profanities, or inappropriate sexual content, MOSTLY MARTHA nevertheless deals with the struggles of single parenthood, skewered priorities and self-absorbed adults. In other words, its a great adult movie Preview can recommend.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Universal Pictures, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608