Watch Eat with Me

Eat with Me is a poignant and bittersweet dramedy directed by David Au that tells the story of a mother and son who struggle to reconnect and reconcile their differences through food and love. The movie explores the themes of family, identity, sexuality, and cultural tradition in a heartwarming and humorous way, touching both the viewer's heart and soul.

The main character is Emma (Sharon Omi), a middle-aged Chinese-American widow who lives in Los Angeles and runs a struggling Chinese restaurant. Emma is reserved, conservative, and stubborn, which often puts her at odds with her liberal and carefree son, Elliot (Teddy Chen Culver). Elliot is a gay artist who lives in New York and is struggling with creative blockage, relationship issues, and reconciliation with his mother.

One day, Emma decides to reach out to Elliott and invites him to come to Los Angeles to help her revive her restaurant and reconnect with her roots. Although Elliot is hesitant at first, he agrees to spend some time with his mother and give her a hand. As soon as Elliot arrives in LA, he realizes that his mother's restaurant is in crisis and needs a major overhaul. Emma is initially resistant to change and refuses to let go of her old ways, but soon she realizes that Elliot is the only person who can save her business and bring back the joy of cooking into her life.

As the two of them bond over food, wine, and conversation, they also embark on their own personal journeys of self-discovery and healing. Elliot finally faces his fears and comes out to his mother, while Emma confronts her insecurities and regrets about her past. In the end, both of them learn to accept and appreciate each other's differences and find common ground in their shared love for food and family.

The movie features a diverse and talented cast, including Nicole Sullivan as Maureen, Elliot's best friend and confidante, who accompanies him on his journey to LA; George Takei as Charles, an elderly gay man who becomes Elliot's mentor and provides him with guidance and wisdom; and Aidan Bristow as Ian, a hotshot chef who challenges Emma's traditional approach to cooking.

What makes Eat with Me stand out from other family dramas is its authentic portrayal of Asian-American culture and the subtle nuances of identity and communication that exist within the family dynamic. The movie also beautifully captures the sensory pleasures of food and the power of cooking to bring people together and heal old wounds.

Overall, Eat with Me is a charming and heartfelt movie that celebrates the joy and complexity of family life and reminds us that love and acceptance are the most important ingredients in any recipe for happiness.

Eat with Me is a 2014 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.