Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Verity Robins Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

has43 I rated this movie 5/10 only because I truly hate the ending. Is the author saying Percy HAD to die to redeem everyone else? If so, that really stinks. God knows what her life was life before she took her tormentor out. AND after. Reminds me of "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn." The mother killed the man who raped her daughter, but after awhile all that anyone seems to remember is that she was convicted of murder. And then there's "Mystic River," wherein Tim Robbins' character was molested as a young boy by two priests, barely escapes with his life, such things were not discussed at that time, he lived with his pain, and then is taken out, and his murderer justifies the unfortunate wrongful murder, but we're left hanging as to any justice occurring, whatsoever.Also, I cannot abide Will Patton, in anything I've seen him in. Otherwise, I think the movie was pretty extraordinary, and I wish I'd walked out of the theater before the ending. If the author ever reads these reviews, I do wish he would explain the ending.Thank you for listening.

Sam Poynter This movie got pretty bad reviews from the Hollywood Hype-mongers. I suppose because it didn't have a lot of flash. All it had was a well-written original story and superb acting with real characters. Anyone who has ever spent time in a small town can identify with nearly all the characters. I could practically name them all in the town I grew up in. I'm sure the only people who would NOT enjoy this movie are the ones who grew up in Hollywood and believe everyone is like them. If thats not you, rent this movie for a truly enjoyable evening. But you might want to bring tissues. It's a very warm and often funny movie, but it's also very sad in some places. Will Patton is incredible and I honestly don't understand why Alison Elliott hasn't been used more than she has since this movie. Ellen Burstyn was glorious as ever :)

MikeSmash The inspiring story of Percy Talbot(Allison Elliot), recently released from prison & looking to start over, finds her way to the New England small town of Gilead. Percy meets & works for cantankerous grill owner Hannah Ferguson(Ellen Burstyn) who takes no mess, relies on no one, & shows little compassion. Hannah's nephew Nahum Goddard(Will Patton), ever cynical & mistrusting, warns his aunt of Percy's past & intentions. Tough & determined, Percy works hard and stays out of trouble. When Hannah takes a fall(breaks her leg), she must lean on Percy to run the grillwhile bedridden. Lack of cooking skills make Percy's debut a total disaster. Luckily for Percy, Hannah calls in Nahum's wife Shannon(Marcia Gay Harden) to help with the cooking. Percy & Shannon work side by side building a quick friendship & mutual respect for one another. Percy soon meets Joe Sperling(Kieran Mulroney, a handsome young local man, who takes a liking to Percy & wants more than just a friendship. Percy guards herself & her feelings so much that she pushes Joe away. Joe finds himself falling in love with Percy & is crushed by her refusal to marry him.Hannah, showing some trust, asks Percy to put a sack of canned goods on a stump in the back for someone to pick up before turning in for the night. Percy obliges but is very curious of the stranger who comes to get the sack. Percy waits up for the stranger who she labels "Johnnie B." & follows him into the woods. Losing the stranger, Percy returns to the Grille to an angry Hannah. Hannah tells Percy to mind her own affairs & that the only hope of getting to the stranger was ruined. Percy goes for a quiet walk in the meadow & is quietly approached & touched by the "Johnnie B." Hannah, tired & overworked, looks to sell the Grille & retire. Percy comes up with an idea to hold a writing contest with the best essay winning the Spitfire Grille as the grand prize. Each contestant must write an essay on why they deserve the Grille & send in a fee. Hannnah agrees & along with Percy & Shannon, the three read the essays to decide a winner.Hannah puts all the fee money into her safe until the contest is over. Nahum, up to no good, takes the money out of Hannah's safe & blames Percy & her "accomplice in the woods" for robbing her. Nahum gets the Sheriff & angry locals to form a posse & apprehend Percy & the stranger. Percy hides in the church for sanctuary & is found by Shannon. Percy tells Shannon of why she was in prison & about the child she lost to family services. A sympathetic Shannon tells Percy that Nahum & the posse are closing in on her & her partner in crime. Percy realizes that the posse will find "Johnnie B." & that she must find him before they do. Percy chases after "Johnnie B." & accidentally is swept into a strong river undertow. "Johnnie B." finds Percy downriver, soaked & dead. Nahum, shocked & bewildered, sees "Johnnie B." or Eli, Hannah's long lost son who disappeared after serving in Vietnam. The town holds Percy's funeral with which Nahum tells the truth about his misdeed. Now that the truth is out, Hannah must still decide on the essay contest winner. A winner is chosen & Hannah prepares for the arrival. Walking down the road, the winner stops in Gilead Park to meet everyone for the first time. It is young woman with a baby boy in tow, nervous & excited to begin a new life & opportunity for her son in Gilead. The following day, Hannah is awakened to find a stranger sitting in a booth. To her surprise & delight, Hannah is seated across the table from her long lost son Eli Ferguson. Hannah holds his hands warmly as tears run down her face. Hannah is whole again & her heart beats with love.A wonderfully acted film with a great cast in Elliot, Burstyn, Patton, & Gay Harden. This was a terrific performance by Marcia Gay Harden, who got critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival. A movie worth a good long look. Don't miss this one, ya hear!!!

caspian1978 Spitfire Grill does a wonderful job capturing the small town New England landscape. The setting for the movie is important as its characters. Both begin to blend from the start of the story. Alison Elliott is by far terrific. At times, Alison Elliott resembles a young Jodie Foster as she plays this innocent, yet troubled youngster as she tries to start fresh with a new life in a new town. At times, the story takes on a biblical tale of forgiveness and loving thy neighbor. A perfect movie about respect and acceptance, The Spitfire Grill takes on a life of its own as the story builds and builds with more secrets. A nice ending that brings everything together and answers all the questions. Alison Elliott is great.