Tortilla Soup (2001)
78%RT Audience Score: 71%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 7 nominations
An English remake of Ang Lee’s Eat Drink Man Woman, Tortilla Soup is as charming and flavorful as the dishes it features
Tortilla Soup is like a warm hug from your grandma, if your grandma was a master chef. The movie may not be groundbreaking, but it’s a delightful and heartwarming story about family, food, and love. Hector Elizondo shines as the patriarch of the family, and the rest of the cast is equally charming. Plus, the food porn in this movie will make your mouth water. Just make sure to have some snacks on hand, because you’ll definitely be craving some delicious Mexican cuisine by the end of it.
Production Company(ies)
Large Lab
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Marshall Fundamental Secondary School – 990 Allen Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sexual content
Year of Release
2001
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby SR
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 42m
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Language(s):English, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 24, 2001 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 15, 2002
Genre(s)
Comedy/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Hector Elizondo, Jacqueline Obradors, Elizabeth Peña, Tamara Mello, Nikolai Kinski, Raquel Welch, directed by Maria Ripoll, written by Vera Blasi, Tom Musca, Ramón Menéndez, comedy, romance, PG-13, box office gross $4.4M, produced by John Bard Manulis, reviewed by Lisa Alspector, Ken Eisner, Geoff Andrew, Laura Bushell, Steven D Greydanus, Geoff Pevere, Rosa Parra, Maitland McDonagh, Joyce Slaton, Felix Vasquez Jr., Ken Hanke, Betsy Bozdech, family, food, cooking, veteran chef, sense of taste, Sunday dinner, relationships, obnoxious woman, Martin, Carmen, Letitcia, Maribel, Andy, Hortensia, Samuel Goldwyn Company, Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo, Flat (1.85:1)
Worldwide gross: $4,634,077
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,809,756
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,041
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 851,664
US/Canada gross: $4,467,615
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,529,220
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,694
US/Canada opening weekend: $653,729
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $1,101,722
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,268
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jacqueline Obradors – Carmen
Elizabeth Peña – Letitcia
Tamara Mello – Maribel
Nikolai Kinski – Andy
Raquel Welch – Hortensia
Director(s)
Maria Ripoll
Writer(s)
Vera Blasi, Tom Musca, Ramón Menéndez
Producer(s)
John Bard Manulis
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (74) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (19)
Only some of the characterizations exhibit subtlety, though most of the performances have considerable charm.
May 27, 2011
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Thanks to a perfectly blended ensemble led by Hector Elizondo, in his best screen role to date, Tortilla Soup is a warm-blooded winner with equal emphasis placed on taste buds and heartstrings.
December 3, 2008
Ken Eisner
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Though the cast are willing, the movie plods along in need of the zingy flavours and hot spices we see going into Elizondo’s cooking.
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Despite a few adjustments, Ripoll’s film largely remains faithful to the central plotting of Lee’s original film, which presented a slightly familiar yet utterly charming tale of food and families.
August 12, 2002 | Rating: 3/5
Laura Bushell
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Isn’t the delicacy that Eat Drink Man Woman was… But on the level of comfort food this remake is enjoyable enough.
May 9, 2002 | Rating: C+
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
If your erotic inclinations tilt toward the table, Tortilla Soup will probably offer nothing short of hardcore pleasure. If not, but see it you must, close your eyes and think of other appetites.
March 29, 2002 | Rating: 2/4
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Don’t watch this movie while hungry. Thoroughly enjoyed this family dynamic and Elizondo in this role.
August 15, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Rosa Parra
Latinx Lens
While this cheerful film has nothing particularly new to say about the ties that hold family members together even when they’re driving each other crazy, it’s a pleasure to watch such a talented ensemble at work.
May 27, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide
A harmless comedy that will make your mouth water.
January 2, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Joyce Slaton
Common Sense Media
This movie has a lot of heart and soul into it.
April 29, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Great filmmaking? No, but it’s warmly enjoyable and a pleasant way to spend an evening.
July 18, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/5
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Warm-hearted, well-fed family comedy.
September 4, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Betsy Bozdech
DVDJournal.com…
Plot
Retired Mexican-American chef Martin Naranjo (Hector Elizondo) shares a Los Angeles, California house with his three gorgeous, but single, adult daughters. Though he long ago lost his ability to taste, Martin still lives to cook incredibly lavish dinners for his loved ones and to serve them in a family-style ritual at traditional sit-down meals. Although the women humor their father’s old-fashioned ways, each of them is searching for fulfillment outside the family circle. College student Maribel (Tamara Mello) is growing increasingly frustrated with the singles scene and wants a steady man; gorgeous career woman Carmen (Jacqueline Obradors) is fed up with her boyfriend and his wandering eye; meanwhile, eldest daughter Leticia (Elizabeth Peña), who has suppressed her own romantic longings, senses something missing in her life. Things take a turn for the romantic when Dad, a widower, meets a vivacious divorcée on the lookout for a mate and each of his daughters, in turn, finds someone. But they’ll all discover that the recipe for happiness may call for some unexpected ingredients.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Héctor Elizondo delivers his best screen role to date in Tortilla Soup.
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