Concession counters should be prepared for the accompanying deluge; after subjecting audiences to two hours of mouthwatering temptation, they could probably sell the stuff by the vat.

A truly astonishing exercise in retro-Gallic nostalgia. I kept gagging on this treacly fantasy as I haven't done since poor Ms. Caron played opposite Horst Buchholz in Joshua Logan's screen version of "Fanny."

A little of this magic goes a long way, and the story's dramatic conflict is a stacked deck leading to predictable conclusions. But given the season, Chocolat is a charming trifle.

Chocolat is definitely a minor piece when compared to other films of a gastronomical nature, although it’s not without its own charms.