Watch Dinner Rush

Dinner Rush is a crime drama film from 2000 directed by Bob Giraldi. The movie takes place in a New York City Italian restaurant called Gigino's, owned by Louis Cropa (Danny Aiello). The film follows the events that unfold over the course of one night, focusing on the interweaving storylines of the restaurant staff, customers, and Louis' mobster son Udo (Edoardo Ballerini).

The movie opens with Louis' introduction to two friends, Fitzgerald (Kirk Acevedo) and Duncan (Jamie Harris), who are trying to pitch their investment idea to Louis in exchange for a piece of the restaurant's profits. Meanwhile, Louis' son Udo, who has just been released from prison, walks into the restaurant, accompanied by his girlfriend Carla (Summer Phoenix), and demands his share of the business. Louis refuses, causing tension between the two.

As the night progresses, the restaurant gets busier, with customers coming in for dinner. The kitchen staff is hard at work, including chef Duncan, who has a temper and argues with the sous chef Carmen (Vivian Wu). Also, a food critic named Annabelle (Sandra Bernhard) comes in with a date, asking for a vegetarian meal, while another group of customers request a meal with no garlic.

The tension between Udo and Louis reaches a boiling point when Udo starts to make threats in front of the entire restaurant, causing Louis to try to keep him under control. However, their argument is interrupted by a group of masked robbers, who burst in and hold everyone hostage. The robbers demand that the staff and customers empty their wallets and give them their valuables.

What follows is a series of twists and turns, as the movie delves into the lives of the different characters at Gigino's. Throughout the night, the restaurant staff faces several setbacks, including a shortage of ingredients, a power outage, and the robbery. However, they persevere, working together to ensure that the customers are served.

One of the most compelling storylines is that of Duncan, the hot-headed chef, who struggles with addiction and is in debt to a local drug dealer. His behavior puts the restaurant's reputation at risk, but his talent keeps him indispensable to Louis and the business. Another interesting character is Mario (John Rothman), one of the customers, who is a restaurant critic himself and provides a unique perspective throughout the movie.

The film's themes explore the tension between family and business, the challenges of running a restaurant, and the ethics of the food industry. The characters are complex and multifaceted, each with their own motives and struggles. Overall, Dinner Rush is an intense, character-driven film that keeps the audience engaged until the very end.

In conclusion, Dinner Rush is a thrilling crime drama that takes place in a restaurant in New York City. The movie is packed with tension, twists, and turns, as the lives of the restaurant staff and customers intersect throughout the night. With strong performances from Danny Aiello, Edoardo Ballerini, and John Rothman, the film's themes of family, business, and the ethics of the food industry resonate and create a thought-provoking and engaging experience.

Dinner Rush is a 2000 drama. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 79.