New Year's Eve, a little early

I always loved a good holiday buffet, especially on New Year's Eve. The more, the merrier. Garry Marshall has provided a buffet of his own with the release of "New Year's Eve", the movie. This is an ensemble cast production and every performance in this movie is a perfect dish in the buffet.

The cast is charming, the plot lines are so clever and well thought out. This is an intricate weave of ingredients that does not skimp on the fun. There are appearances by a couple of Hollywood greats, namely Robert DeNiro and Hector Elizondo who produce some of the main courses, but one of the standout performances is dished by Lea Michele. Her chemistry with Ashton Kutcher is extremely believable and very pleasant to watch. Another great, Hilary Swank, gives the type of performance we've come to expect, and proves herself to be quite comically capable.

I hesitate to describe even a bit of the action because, while this is a cinematic smorgasbord, every dish comes together in a way that would make even Emeril proud, and to give even a hint of the plot twists would spoil this feast. Suffice to say that if you are looking for a real feel-good movie that warms the heart without being too sweet or cloying, then you are in for a real treat with this production. There are no lackluster performances, and every cast member shines in his or her respective roles. This is one of the best jobs of fitting the actors to the parts I have seen in a long time. You'll love Michelle Pfieffer, Hallie Berry will bring tears to your eyes, and Garry Marshall enlisting Alyssa Milano in a role with such an appropriate line, well that is the cherry on the sundae for me.

Do yourself a favor and get to see this movie before the actual New Year's Eve. You'll be full, satisfied and energized to have a holiday that's just a little bit sweeter.