Food of Love (2002)

Love or Lust?
I will say this film was better than I thought it would be, enough to keep me interested in watching it. There were definite flaws in it that bemused me as I thought how can the filmmakers not have seen these flaws. Many of it is with some of the acting, it was so unconvincing that it was almost embarrassing. I bumped my stars from three to four because I found the story rather interesting, and watchable, plus kudos to Kevin Bishop, the young actor who plays Paul who has to carry this film on his own, not to mention having to go head to head with some mediocre talent, with the exception of Juliet Stevenson who plays his mother in an over the top way, but good chemistry between them there. The casting of the three older men couldn't have been more repulsive, they seemed so creepy and predatory, I can't understand how someone of Paul's intelligence would give them the time of day. Although it is not a question of Paul not being able to fall in love with someone of that age group, but they could've picked some much more attractive and debonair men who don't come off as predatory, unless that was supposed to be the point. Paul is the youngest of the group and yet he seems to be the one that's the most together being led on by these atrocious older men who have no regard for him that isn't superficial. Overall, a watchable and interesting tale about love and perhaps lust.

Good acting; Disappointing Story
So much potential and so little fulfillment. This film has some great acting by Kevin Bishop (Paul) and his mother played by Juliet Stevenson. Their chemistry is evident. Not so though with Bishop and the object of his affection (Paul Rhys) and all the other older men he seems to get involved with. It would have been nice to explore Paul's character a little more to find out the whos, the wheres and the whys of him. Sure we know he has a thing for older men...he's looking for a father figure....but we know nothing of what leads up to the breakup of his parents. His mother comes off as an irritating shrew .... especially in a scene where she comes on to Richard Kennington, the man her son is fooling around with. But the acting is first rate. Too bad the story is one note and very disappointing. This movie could have been so much better.

It Could Have Been So Good
"Food of Love"

It Could Have Been So Good

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

I really dislike films that have great potential and they because of some unknown reason fall flat. Not that "Food of Love" fell flat but it could have been so much better.
"Food of Love" had the potential to be a beautiful coming-of-age story. All of the elements were there but it somehow lost its focus and became extremely muddled. I wanted so much to like this movie. It basically "lost it" in the way that it showed how not to care for an eighteen year old whose is full of infatuation for an older man.
Paul (Kevin Bishop) is a vulnerable and sheltered teen who has fallen in love with Richard (Paul Rhys). What happens to the two is the meat of the story. Richard gives the impression that he is unconcerned with the young man who is obviously smitten with him. Paul is hopelessly in love with Richard as evidenced by the number of phone calls and by the faxes he sent him. Paul as a student as Julliard then transfer his affections to another older man, a "sugar daddy" who is three times his age but pines over Richard. Paul's mother is at a loss as to how to deal with the situation and behaves hysterically.
We can only wonder if Paul who had the ability to become a brilliant pianist actually was so distraught over his unrequited love that he turned in only mediocre performances. What is so sad is that Paul allowed the men to use him sexually and believed that they cared for him.
As this sad move comes to a close it was totally uneven and completely unfulfilling. A great deal of emotion was shown at the end of the film--so much so that the film seemed to be just getting going instead of drawing to a close. Paul does manage to come to terms with his mother but only as a broken youth and the movie has no resolution.
The script had virtually no focus whatsoever and thus the movie had no direction. I am sure yet as to whether it is a soap opera or soft core porn. The acting is very, very amateurish and Kevin Bishop as Paul shows no talent aside from having a very pretty rear end.
What is missing most of all is an ending. Paul moves to New York and is disillusioned--THE END. The characters do not seem to know anything about themselves and all they learn in the film is that life is no good and that people can't be trusted. The movie does not show life--it hides from it.