Watch The Golden Scallop

The Golden Scallop is a 2013 comedy film that focuses on a competition between four restaurants in Boston. The competition is centered around the titular Golden Scallop award, which is given each year to the restaurant that can cook the best scallops. The restaurants are each represented by a team of four characters, consisting of a cook, a server, a host, and a busboy.

The premise of the film is quite simple and straightforward, but it allows for a number of different plot threads to develop as the various characters interact with each other. Each team has its own unique backstory, with various personal and professional conflicts that they must work through in order to compete in the contest. These conflicts provide much of the film's humor, as well as its more dramatic moments.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is the way it explores different culinary cultures. The four restaurants that participate in the contest are each representative of different types of cuisine: Italian, Chinese, French, and American. Each team has a very different approach to cooking scallops, which allows the film to highlight some of the differences between these culinary cultures. This is done with a light touch, however, so the film never feels like it is trying to lecture the audience about the virtues of any particular cuisine.

The film's cast is also worth mentioning. James Cosmo plays the role of Max, the owner of the restaurant that won last year's Golden Scallop award. Max is a gruff and cantankerous character who serves as a sort of mentor to the other teams as they prepare for the competition. Nicole Steinwedell plays Emily, the host of the Italian team. Emily is a confident and assertive character who clashes with her own chef, Vinnie (played by Max Cavenham), over the best way to prepare scallops. Marnie Schulenburg plays Lauren, the server of the French team. Lauren is a neurotic and high-strung character who is constantly worrying about whether her team will be able to win the competition.

There are also a number of supporting characters who add to the film's humor and drama. For example, there is a food critic named Martin (played by Brian Anthony Wilson) who is constantly visiting the restaurants and critiquing their scallops. Martin is a somewhat stereotypical character, but he is played with enough charm and humor to be entertaining nonetheless. There is also a subplot involving a love triangle between two characters from different teams, which adds a bit of romantic tension to the proceedings.

Overall, The Golden Scallop is a light and entertaining comedy that should appeal to fans of food-themed films like Chef and Julie & Julia. The film's focus on different culinary cultures and its exploration of the personal and professional conflicts that arise during a cooking competition make it a bit more substantive than some similar films. The performances of the cast are also quite strong, especially James Cosmo as Max. While the film is unlikely to blow anyone away, it is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon and should be a satisfying watch for anyone looking for a lighthearted comedy with a foodie twist.

The Golden Scallop is a 2013 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6.