Tempted by Love: A Terry McMillan Presentation (2024 Lifetime)
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Cast: Garcelle Beauvais, Donna Biscoe, Loretta Devine, Vaughn W. Hebron
Director: Tailiah Breon
Writer(s): Tamara Gregory
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Lifetime)
Ava (Garcelle Beauvais), a world-class renowned chef living in Europe, rushes home to care for her elderly aunt (Donna Biscoe) in South Carolina after she suffers from a fall. Picked up from the long flight by Luke (Vaughn W. Hebron), a handsome driver 20-years her junior, the pair feel an unexpected, yet passionate, connection. With a mutual interest in food, family and fun, Ava and Luke are the perfect recipe for love. Despite her feelings for him, Ava soon realizes that Luke still has so much to experience in life and she must decide what is best for her own career and relationships. Lela Rochon and Loretta Devine also star.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Garcelle Beauvais plays the head chef in a high-intensity restaurant. (Think The Bear editing with Gordon Ramsey’s menu.) Garcelle Beauvais demands the most from her staff, and the plates look great! (Not so great!) Even so, the Brussels restaurant earns a Michelin star. Garcelle Beauvais pops some pills and hops on a flight back home to visit her sick aunt. Her driver, Luke, is very inquisitive about Garcelle Beauvais’s life and is flirty AF.
Luke visits Garcelle Beauvais’s aunt in the hospital and cooks black peas, and they impress Garcelle Beauvais. Luke just so happens to want to be a chef. Since Garcelle Beauvais can’t drive, she will need him to drive her around while she is in town. Luke gets calls from his ex-girlfriend and quickly tells Garcelle Beauvais he is single. She tells him she is, too, and they are vibing from the get-go!
Garcelle Beauvais is menopausal and constantly hot. She is also exhausted all the time. Word gets out that she is slipping at work, and she isn’t asked back to the fancy restaurant. The truth is Garcelle Beauvais has rheumatoid arthritis and can’t keep up. Her Auntie offers her home to give Garcelle Beauvais a place to figure out her next phase in life.
Luke is 31 and much younger than Garcelle Beauvais. (50, unemployed, and sleeping in her aunt’s spare room! No judgement, I’m living with my parents right now!) He offers to take her out to distract her from her ex-boyfriend. The ex is already getting engaged to a new woman. (Boy, Bye!) They start going on dates, and Garcelle Beauvais receives advice from her Auntie and BFF. Dating a younger man isn’t as awkward as Garcelle Beauvais imagines. Luke is grounded and endured a lot of hardships in his young years. They dance and have a romantic time. She asks him to take things slow. Garcelle Beauvais wants to keep it on the DL because she is worried about the age difference. She is also worried about being considered a cougar.
Next, we get a cooking montage of the two in the kitchen, which is the true test of a relationship. (Amiright?) Later, Luke gives Garcelle Beauvais a driving lesson, and she is predictably and comically terrible. (I like their playful relationship.) When Luke wants to take things to the next level, Garcelle Beauvais tells him he hasn’t lived enough. He is insulted, but they still get it on!!!! The next day, Garcelle Beauvais tells Luke about a job that she is up for in Zurich. She explains that she will only be in town till the end of summer.
Luke and Garcelle Beauvais throw a beautiful birthday party for Aunt Judy. Loretta Devine shows up. What more do you need for a good time?! The party goes well, and Luke charms everyone. Garcelle Beauvais is glowing, and everyone is excited about her new love affair. She says she feels “light but grounded.” She feels “sexy and safe.” He is kind and reminds her to be kind to herself. (That is a man worth loving!) Aunt Judy says she is going to spank Garcelle Beauvais if she breaks Luke’s heart.
Luke gets a scholarship to a culinary school in Paris, and Garcelle Beauvais is so happy for him. Luke dreams of traveling to Zurich to visit her. Garcelle Beauvais breaks the news to him. She isn’t going to Zurich after all. She will be staying in the USA to be a chief executive Chef for a high-end hotel chain. Luke is heartbroken. She gives him a ride to the airport, and that is that.
Then Garcelle Beauvais stops the car and rushes into the airport to stop Luke. She tells him she can’t let him go without telling him how much he means to her. He helped her through a really dark moment in her life. Garcelle Beauvais tells him to consider this an interlude to a possible second act.
In a much better place, Garcelle Beauvais goes to get her driver’s life. She starts her next chapter as an empowered and invigorated woman.
Side Note/Stray Thoughts
The dialogue and acting style here were so refreshing. The movie is slow-burning and has no Lifetime tropes—it’s just an examination of a relationship.
Overall rating
Number of Kills: Not that kind of Lifetime Movie
Enjoyment Level (1-5 scale)
🍷🍷🍷🍷 (4 Glasses of Wine)
Should you watch it? Yes!
Pour it Up (Give it a shot!)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked & @patrickmiguel.
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*Photo Credit: © 2024 A&E Television Networks, LLC
I liked it so much, it kept coming back to my mind continually. I really like the storyline. I am a foodie, so the “chef” thing was a big plus for me. And, of course, I think Luke is fantastic! I loved the way he was so “into” Ava, and how considerate he was of her in every way. All in all, it was a great feel good movie!