Better Than Chocolate (1999)

Better Than Chocolate has the rare gift of feeling both breezily romantic and quietly brave, a sexy, high-spirited Vancouver love story that’s as much about finding your people as finding “the one.” Anne Wheeler directs with an exuberant, crowd-pleasing pulse, letting the comedy of cramped living arrangements and not-quite-told truths spark naturally, while the cast keeps everything grounded in warmth—especially as Maggie’s new romance collides with family expectations and a chosen community that isn’t always as welcoming as it should be. The vibe is playful and frank, full of bookstore banter and lived-in chemistry, but it also makes room for sharper edges when the outside world intrudes, giving the sweetness a little bite. It’s not for the prudish or for viewers who want their rom-coms entirely weightless, but if you’re open to something funny, tender, and unapologetically alive, it’s an easy film to fall for.

Better Than Chocolate is clearly trying to be a warm, sex-positive rom-com with a coming-out storyline and a community-minded message, and it deserves credit for putting queer relationships front and center for its era. The problem is it often plays like a sitcom that keeps tripping over heavier material, with uneven writing, wobbly pacing, and a tone that can jump from cute misunderstandings to serious danger without much finesse. If you need sharp dialogue, tight storytelling, or surprises, the plot’s predictability and scattered focus may test your patience. But if you’re in the mood for a breezy, earnest slice of late-’90s queer cinema with some genuine charm and a likable cast, you might still find it worth your time—just don’t expect it to be as smooth as it wants to be.