A charming performance from one of two female leads can't save this mixed bag of a picture that tries to blend RomCom, absurd humor and a dash of fantasy, and ultimately fails at all three.

Cousins Vivien and Chloe inherit their aunt's bakery, but disagree on how to operate it. Vivien (Aimee Teegarden from TV's "Friday Night Lights") wants to keep it traditional, while Chloe (Broadway musical star Krysta Rodriguez) wants to switch it up with modern, healthier recipes.

But their late aunt (the great Linda Lavin, hamming it up) left the place in debt, and an evil, even hammier-acting banker seeks to foreclose. So the plucky girls and their friends hatch a plan to keep it open.

The lazily titled "Bakery in Brooklyn" has a dream-like quality to it. With its obvious set pieces and soundstage, rich and vibrant cinematography, a charming, circus-y score, and fantastic elements such as a blind shoe-shine man who can divine people's personalities by caressing their footwear, the filmmakers are obviously shooting for New York-based magical realism like "Little Manhattan."

The result, unfortunately, is much less successful than that superior predecessor.

The biggest problem is the script, which is overloaded with ancillary characters, unimportant side plots and absurd situations.

While it distracts us with stories about a bumbling nerd trying to hook up with a beautiful Spanish girl, and an Eastern European drug dealer who finds a friend in the cousins' elderly uncle (Ernie "Pumbaa" Sabella),the movie short-changes us on the most important part of the plot -- the two cousins' personality clash. It's touched upon, but then driven to a heated confrontation in the first act. After that, there wasn't much interesting left about them for the rest of the movie.

And that's a shame, because Rodriguez is a joy to watch. Vivacious, witty and adorable, hers is the most enjoyable and well-developed character in a film otherwise stocked with rubber-stamped archetypes.

Meandering character studies, particularly those set in Manhattan, a city well-suited to meandering, can often be enjoyable, and transcend even the most threadbare of a plot.

But "Bakery in Brooklyn" is loaded with so much unnecessary nonsense, its story gets buried and it loses its heart.

And a romantic comedy without heart is like a cannoli without filling. It leaves you craving the sweet it's missing.

Vivien (Aimee Teegarden) and Chloe (Krysta Rodriguez) are orphaned cousins who are more like bickering sisters. Their aunt Isabelle (Linda Lavin) raised them together and runs a Brooklyn corner bakery. The cousins are forced to take over after Isabelle's death which leaves them heavily in debt and the bakery threatened with foreclosure by the bank. Chloe quits her job as an assistant to bad TV chef Fernando. Vivien abandons her European trip. The banker on the case, Paul, is in love with Vivien. Following his unknowing advice, Vivien claims a three month extension with uncle Dave as a resident of the property. Ian is the bumbling worker and Chloe recruits Daniella to modernize the shop.

This starts somewhat seriously but it turns into a bad wacky romance. There are a lot of slapstick and broad comedy going on here but it has the tone of a sweet bland rom-com with a drug dealer, a mysterious house renovation, and a fantastical shoe reader. Like the food fight, this is a mess. None of the actors are comedic actors who could pull off the wackiness it is attempting in this movie. At best, they are comedy adjacent. It is good natured and sweet like the cupcakes. Like them, it is also empty calories. Then it turns really dark, really really dark for no apparent reason. It's a bunch of weird stuff mounted on a bland rom-com. At least, it's filmed in New York.

A charming and appealing comedy with fine actors that was a success enough at Spanish box office . This is a pretty good film , being mainly set at a traditional stately shop and a few scenarios . The picture displays an optimist and good feeling message with sympathetic roles and likeable situations . Vivien (Aimee Teegarden) and Chloe (Krysta Rodriguez) are two understanding and honest cousins living in Brooklyn, they have been inseparable ever since they were children. At least, they were until recently , as the sudden passing of their Aunt Isabelle (Linda Lavin) has left them with a challenging inheritance : a quaint Boulangerie , Isabelle's, an old fashioned European-styled bakery in Brooklyn, has long been owned and operated by its namesake, Isabelle Moats . As Vivien has to leave her wishes to travel Europe to keep the bakery and Chloe, a chefs assistant for a popular daytime cooking show, feels they should put a modern spin on the sweet products . But things go awry when they learn the bakery is bankrupted due to the previous business that ruined and the bank reveals that the Boulangerie is in danger of being foreclosed . The true problem is what the debts accumulate and they're living almost in the ruin and the situations go wrong . The sweet spot where anything goes.

Stylish and agreeable comedy seasoned with diverting scenes , alluring mess , confusion , mayhem , entertainment and professionally directed by Gustavo Ron . It is a fun picture dealing with couple relationships , jealousy , cousins conflicts and many other things . Resulting to be a decent movie , though slightly claustrophobic due to be usually set at a bakery owns Vivien & Chloe . Romantic and convincing Spanish/US comedy with good actors delivering fine interpretations , funny scenes and nice direction. This is a charming and likable comedy with a lot of incidents in which each time more dangerously out of control , including attractant love stories in which there are twisted messes , as well as the ordinary comedian clichés . Colorful story of loves and jealousy in which predominates amiable, attracting roles who become embroiled in multiple bakery messes . It has some moments of enjoyment as well as amusement and others quite a few embarrassing . Regular and unbalanced , but gaining the sympathy almost at all times . Agreeable performance from cute Aimee Teegarden as Vivien, who has postponed her dream trip to Europe to help run the shop, she wants to keep traditional things , and Krysta Rodriguez as Chloe who is arguably more knowledgeable about food and a better cook/baker since her previous experience . Along with an attractive support cast , such as : Blanca Suárez, Aitor Luna , Enrique Arce, Griffin Newman , Ernie Sabella , Ward Horton , among others . Special mention for the veteran Linda Lavin in a brief role as the kind aunt who cared the two cousins since their respective sets of parents passed away , leaving Isabelle to raise both of them.

It displays a catching and moving musical score by Lucio Godoy . As well as a brilliant and glimmering cinematography by Miguel Gilaberte , usually in half-light from the bakery . This motion picture with a great and sympathetic cast was well directed by Gustavo Ron , as no big deal , the flick is acceptable and decent enough . However , accustomed the general public to hit smashes of other US blockbusters , this little ''My Bakery in Brooklyn 2016'' director failed to convince this time to critics , however getting success enough at the Spanish boxoffice and limited in USA. The motion picture was compellingly directed by Gustavo Ron. He is a fine craftsman who has directed a few films and TV series such as : Mia Sarah , My Bakery in Brooklyn , Vivir para siempre or Way to live forever and Velvet colection series . Rating : 6.5/10 , worthwhile seeing .