Dinner Rush

Set in a busy little, critically acclaimed and family owned restaurant called Gigino in Manhattan, Dinner Rush is a scattershot of the lives of the eatery's owners, workers and clients. While there's nothing really original about the premise or narrative structure of Dinner Rush, Giraldi's style of direction is something to savor (couldn't resist, folks). His camerawork pans elegantly around the cramped kitchen of the New York eatery, and his handling of the actors is well judged. Best known for her dalliance with Madonna some years back, Bernhard is in excellent form as a snappy critic, whom the restaurant's neurotic head chief, Udo (Edoardo Ballerini) is desperate to impress, while Aiello puts in an engaging performance as the despairing owner. Where Dinner Rush loses some edge (and only slightly, mind you) is due to the introduction of too many characters in too short a running time. A minor complaint, though.