Watch Isn't It Delicious

Isn't It Delicious is a poignant and heartfelt independent drama film from 2013, directed by Michael Patrick Kelly, that tells the story of Joan Weldon (Kathleen Chalfant), an accomplished and elegant woman living with breast cancer. Joan is a successful cookbook author who married a well-known TV producer named Vic (Keir Dullea), and together they had two children, a son named Tim (Robert M. Johanson) and a daughter named Ronnie (Alice Ripley). However, their marriage was far from perfect, and after years of living as a traditional housewife, Joan divorces Vic and becomes a single mother of two.

As the movie begins, Joan is already well into her battle with cancer, with her devoted daughter Ronnie by her side. The relationship between Joan and Ronnie is one of deep love and understanding, and Ronnie is always there for her mother, even when Joan refuses to accept her help. However, the same cannot be said for Tim, who is living in California with his family and has not seen his mother in years. Tim is a successful writer but is also a selfish and self-absorbed person who ignores his mother's calls and refuses to come to New York to visit her, even when she is hospitalized.

As Joan's health declines, so does her relationship with her son. Joan's estranged husband Vic (Keir Dullea) shows up unexpectedly, and his arrival only makes things more complicated for the family. Vic is a charming man who longs for a reconciliation with Joan, but their past issues seep through, making things tense between them.

Despite everything, Joan remains strong and determined to make the most of the time she has left. She is willing to confront her own mortality and talks about it openly with her daughter in a way that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Joan starts to take control of her life, deciding to live life to the fullest, and enjoy even the simple things.

The film is a beautiful exploration of family dynamics, sacrifice, love, and forgiveness. The interactions between Joan, Ronnie, and Tim are incredibly believable, and the story resonates with anyone who has experienced a tumultuous family relationship or faced a life-threatening illness. The performances of Kathleen Chalfant and Alice Ripley are especially noteworthy, as they convincingly portray a mother-daughter relationship that is fraught with tension but deep love.

The movie tackles the issue of cancer head-on, portraying the physical and emotional toll it takes on the sufferer and their loved ones. It does not shy away from the difficult conversations around death, and offers a realistic and honest take on how it affects everyone involved.

Through her illness, Joan achieves a sense of liberation and freedom that she had been denying herself all her life. She finally stands up to her rude neighbor who has been taking advantage of her kindness, fires her publisher who has been phoning it in for years, and rekindles her relationship with Vic, albeit briefly.

The movie's final scene is a poignant moment that brings the story to a satisfying conclusion, while still leaving the viewer with a sense of loss and yet hope. The camera work is fantastic, with several close-ups on Joan's face showcasing Chalfant's acting skills and conveying the emotion she is feeling.

Overall, Isn't It Delicious provides a deep insight into the human experience when one is faced with death. The movie is a powerful reminder to value life and relationships with loved ones, and to cherish every moment. It is a deeply affecting and meaningful film that deals with a challenging topic in a compassionate and thoughtful way.

Isn't It Delicious is a 2014 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8.