Cook Off! (2017): Cast, Ratings & Plot
Cook Off! is a 2017 comedy directed by Cathryn Michon and Guy Shalem, starring Mo Collins as Van Rookle Farms Housewife, Jordan Black and Jennifer Elise Cox. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and was made on a reported $8,000 budget. Critics gave it 25% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.0/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Directors
- Cathryn Michon and Guy Shalem
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Lionsgate Premiere
- Budget
- $8K
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Cook Off! About?
The premise of Cook Off! without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
This wickedly witty mockumentary follows a group of eccentric baking enthusiasts competing for a $1 million prize. Cameras capture their every move as alliances shift, secrets are revealed, and unexpected romances develop. The competition intensifies, creating both sweet and savory chaos as they vie for the coveted title and a life-changing reward.
Cook Off! Themes & Keywords
· 1 tag- mother
Cook Off! Cast & Characters
Mo Collins leads the cast as Van Rookle Farms Housewife, with Jordan Black as Markus Briggs and Jennifer Elise Cox as Cassandra Dougherty. Directed by Cathryn Michon and Guy Shalem; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Co-director Cathryn Michon
- Co-director Guy Shalem
- Mo Collins as Van Rookle Farms Housewife
- Jordan Black as Markus Briggs
- Jennifer Elise Cox as Cassandra Dougherty
-
Diedrich Bader as Del Crawford
Also Starring in Cook Off!
· 6 more- Tom Carey Grandfather pasternak
- Louie Anderson Mayor Doug Halverson
- Mark Cirillo James, Bananas Waiter
- Nick Rey Angelus At Risk Youth'Paco
- W. Bruce Cameron EMT
- Lizzy Burgi Daughter
More from Cathryn Michon and Guy Shalem
More films directed by Cathryn Michon and Guy Shalem: Ronny & i and Cook-Off!.
Cook Off! Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Cook Off! 25% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 25/100, strongest in sensory experience (35) and weakest in rewatch factor (15).
Cook Off! Echo Score Breakdown
In general, Cook Off! falls short of its mockumentary aspirations, suffering from uneven execution and unengaging humor. Critics routinely noted its strained folksiness, low-brow gags, and lack of narrative coherence, while several users described the production as amateurish with awkward improvised moments that drag. Performances by seasoned comedians are limited by a weak script and fleeting cameos, leaving little emotional resonance or memorable payoff. Overall, the film struggles to deliver engagement or sustained enjoyment.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 25
In terms of art and craft, Cook Off! exhibits notably uneven production quality that undercuts its mockumentary style. Critics pointed to amateurish editing and a lack of visual polish, while users described the film as having awkward framing and gloppy presentation. The direction and production design fail to cohere, resulting in a disjointed aesthetic lacking refinement.
- Character & Emotion 30
When it comes to character and emotion, Cook Off! presents a lineup of capable comedians hindered by shallow characterizations. Reviews noted a lack of depth and emotional resonance, describing characters as absurd and one-dimensional. Melissa McCarthy’s brief cameo was regarded as a highlight, yet the overall chemistry feels forced and fails to foster genuine engagement.
- Story & Flow 20
In terms of story and flow, the film struggles with inconsistent pacing and predictable plotting. Critics described the narrative as clichéd and weighed down by low-brow gags that overstay their welcome, while users criticized prolonged improvised scenes that disrupt momentum. The mockumentary approach lacks original insight, resulting in a disengaging storyline that seldom surprises.
- Sensory Experience 35
In terms of sensory experience, Cook Off! is marked by a lack of cohesive visual and auditory style. Critics and users noted that the sound design and soundtrack are unremarkable, and the visual cohesion suffers from uneven color palettes and jarring edits. The overall sensory impression is bland and fails to enhance the comedic intent.
- Rewatch Factor 15
When considering rewatch factor, Cook Off! offers little incentive for repeat viewings. Users indicated that its humor fails to sustain interest beyond a single screening, and critics agreed that the experience is forgettable. The film’s episodic structure and weak punchlines do not reward subsequent watches, resulting in minimal lasting appeal.
-
IMDb 6.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 25% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 57%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 56% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.2 /5
29 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 5.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Cook Off! Plot Summary
What happens in Cook Off! from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In Minnesota, the two very different Solfest sisters, Sharon and Pauline, win entry into a lucrative, nationwide cooking showdown hosted by Van Rookle Farms. Sharon enters a dazzling multi-chocolate dessert, while Pauline submits a dish designed to be easy for seniors to digest. Sharon is engaged to Lars Hagerbakke, described as a black Swede, and they have vowed chastity until their wedding, whereas Pauline’s sisterhood life is consumed by work and little time for romance.
Full summary
The whole story of Cook Off!, scene by scene
Cook Off! Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Cook Off!.
How Well Do You Know Cook Off!?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the prize amount for the televised cooking contest?
Cook Off! Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “XXX: Hiloukh gavoha” and “Xander Returns, xXx: Return of Xander Cage 3D, xXx III: Return of Xander Cage, xXx 3 - Return of Xander Cage”.
- Also known as
-
- XXX: Hiloukh gavoha
- Xander Returns, xXx: Return of Xander Cage 3D, xXx III: Return of Xander Cage, xXx 3 - Return of Xander Cage
- Triplo X 3: Reativado, xXx 3 - Reactivated, xXx: Reaktywacja, xXx Return of Xander Cage, xXx - Return of Xander Cage, xXx III
- Triple X 3 - Reactivated
- Triple xXx 3 - Reactivated
- ثلاثية ايكس : عودة إسكندر كيدج
- 3X 反恐暴族：重火力回歸
- XXX: הילוך גבוה, xXx The Return of Xander Cage, xXx Die Rueckkehr des Xander Cage
- 3X反恐暴族：重火力回歸, xXx - Die Rückkehr des Xander Cage
- Три икса: Мировое господство, xXx : Reactivated, xXx: Návrat Xandera Cagea
- טריפל אקס 3: הילוך גבוה, xXx: Reactivated
- Три ікси: Реактивізація, xXx: Újra akcióban, xXx: Επανεκκίνηση, xXx: Reativado
+14 more Show fewer
- Yeni Nesil Ajan: Xander Cage'in Dönüşü, xXx: O Regresso de Xander Cage
- 限制級戰警：重返極限, xXx - Il ritorno di Xander Cage
- 트리플 엑스 리턴즈
- Трите хикса: Отново в играта, xXx: Návrat Xandera Cage
- 极限特工3：终极回归
- Triplu X: Întoarcerea lui Xander Cage
- XxX 3: Xander Cagen paluu
- Троструко икс: Повратак Зендера Кејџа, xXx: Ksanderio Keidžo sugrįžimas, xXx: Reactivado, xXx: Povratak Xandera Cagea, xXx: Reaktiviran, xXx : Le retour de Xander Cage
- سه ایکس: بازگشت ژاندر کیج
- トリプルX：再起動
- ทริปเปิ้ลเอ็กซ์ 3 ทลายแผนยึดโลก, xXx: Reaktivēts
- Điệp Viên xXx: Phản Đòn
- ثلاثية ايكس: عودة إكسندر كيدج, xXx: ქსანდერ კეიჯის დაბრუნება, xXx: Die Rückkehr des Xander Cage
- 极限特工 3：终极回归, xXx: रिटर्न ऑफ़ जैंडर केज, xXx - Povratak Zendera Kejdža, xХx: Враќањето на Ксандер Кејџ, xXx: Kthimi i Zander Kejxhit
Seen Cook Off!?
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Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Cook-Off!, Cook Off and Cooking with Love.
Cook Off! FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of Cook Off!, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Cook Off!?
Cook Off! runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was Cook Off! released?
Cook Off! was released on November 17, 2017.
Who directed Cook Off!?
Cook Off! was directed by Cathryn Michon and Guy Shalem.
More films by Cathryn Michon Who is in the cast of Cook Off!?
Cook Off! stars Mo Collins as Van Rookle Farms Housewife, Jordan Black as Markus Briggs and Jennifer Elise Cox as Cassandra Dougherty, among 10 credited actors.
What was the budget of Cook Off!?
Cook Off! had a reported budget of $8,000.
How is Cook Off! rated?
Cook Off! has 6.0/10 on IMDb, 25% on Rotten Tomatoes, 56% on TMDB and 2.2/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Cook Off! have a post-credit scene?
No. Cook Off! has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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