Table One (2000)

This was a pain to sit through, and you'll find it quite trying for every mind numbingly uncool moment in this movie of supposedly "cool" guys. The acting all around is embarrassing (even great character actor Guzman is uncharacteristically inept here) and the production values are distractingly cheap. Perhapd most irritating here is the usually funny David Herman (Office Space) who portrays one of the most obnoxious lead characters of any genre in a long time. Stephen Baldwin breezes in and out coasting on the fumes of his once great charisma to collect his paycheck and look smug. This is recommended only as an endurance test for masochistic viewers hell bent on finishing any movie they start (and I guess in this case I am one of the troubled few). This type of film has been done better ("MADE" by Jon Favreau, lesser similar but just similar enough "SWINGERS" and "FREE ENTERPRISE") so why not watch one of those instead?

This is basically a bunch of New York fellas fraternizing at a posh martini bar, but a wisely chosen cast make the whole affair a genuine pleasure to watch. Subdued humor and keen comic timing gives this one an edge that overcomes it's theatricality and sitcom-style setting. Worth a look for the standout performance of Luiz Guzman, one of the screen's most underappreciated character actors. Delightful.

"Table One" tells of bunch of guys who go partners in a trendy restaurant with the hope that it will help them connect with available women. The motley crew involves the usual diversity required for comic relief (a gay guy, a gangster guy, a sports guy, a wacky guy, a straight man, etc) while 95% of the run takes place in the restaurant with the story moving from one sitcom scene to another. Uninspired, ordinary fare which is busily relaxed in its approach to comedy, "Table One" has little to fault and little to praise. A reasonably pleasant couch potato diversion. (C+)

I recently saw this movie at the Hamptons Film Festival and found it to be an enjoyable light comedy. There is no let down when you don't have any expectations. The cast play their parts well. I enjoyed Luis Guzman as Xavier, the narrator and host of the restaurant the film centers on and Micheal Rooker, the aging hockey player. The film focuses on four friends that are interested in meeting women. They are misfits in the New York City social scene and can't seem to pick up any women. They come up with the idea of opening a restaurant and with the help of a gangster get the funds to open it. After that it focuses on the guys and their continued stumblings. It is worth seeing; let's hope it gets picked up.