Amanda Shelton (Sarah Michelle Gellar) inherits her late mother's restaurant but not her skills. The rent is raised and they are about to close. A mystery man sells her a magical crab. Tom Bartlett (Sean Patrick Flanery) runs a high-end department store and he's adding a new expensive restaurant. He and his unstable girlfriend Chris (Amanda Peet) are going to check out a high class chef when the mystery man drives his cab and drop them off in front of Amanda's restaurant. Amanda's food starts effecting her patrons in unusual ways.

This is more on the level of a lesser Lifetime movie. Flanery doesn't have enough charisma which limits the romantic chemistry. Despite having some great supporting actors, the material is nowhere good enough. Also, I'm uncertain about how the magic works on the food and its effects on the people. I don't understand Tom and Chris acting up after eating her food. The comedy doesn't really work. There is a possible food-porn movie but it's not filmed well. The elements of better movies are here but none of it really works.

Amanda Shelton goes into a NYC street market and is greeted by a man who appears from nowhere . This left me thinking that I might be watching a cheesy romantic fantasy . As it turns out SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE is a cheesy romantic fantasy with a little too much cheese for this viewers appetite . Perhaps I shouldn't be reviewing a movie that's not for the male market but I should warn any potential audience of just how lightweight and frivolous the movie is . For example it's never explained as to why this guardian angel character picks on Amanda , or why if the Shelton family have rented their restaurant for seventy years they never once thought about buying it . You do get the impression that because it's a romantic fantasy the producers haven't lavished too much care or attention to a potential audience and this is reflected in the whole feel of the movie which is silly and unrealistic

Like I say this isn't my type of movie but BBC 1 broadcast another romantic comedy THE American PRESIDENT immediately before this and I found the Michael Douglas movie very amusing and entertaining simply because it had attention to detail and felt it belonged in a realistic universe something you can't say about the trite SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE which is simply irritating

I rented 5 movies this week, and the first 2 I watched were horrible. *cough!* English Patient! *cough!* I am a fan of Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sean Patrick Flannery, so I was excited to see them in a movie together. I had to rent it, but I noticed a low rating on IMDb. Now, I have to ask, was it that terrible? No, not at all. Actually, I thought it was kind of cute. Nothing I'd watch again and again. But it was a nice little comedy that does deserve a watch. I would recommend this for a date indoors. It has comedy, romance, and magic.... literally. Both Sarah and Sean did a great job, and had very good chemistry on screen. So, you will not be disappointed. Just give it a chance.

6/10