''Just Add Water'' is a 2008 American

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

film written and directed by

Hart Bochner Hart Matthew Bochner (born October 3, 1956) is a Canadian actor, film director, screenwriter and producer. He has appeared in films such as ''Breaking Away'' (1979), ''Terror Train'' (1980), '' Rich and Famous'' (1981), '' The Wild Life'' (1984), ...

. The film stars

Dylan Walsh Dylan Walsh (born Charles Hunter Walsh; November 17, 1963) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dr. Sean McNamara in the FX television series ''Nip/Tuck'', Al Burns in ''Unforgettable'' and Sam Lane in ''Superman & Lois''. E ...

as a hardworking man living in the same small town in which he grew up,

Danny DeVito Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. (born November 17, 1944) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He gained prominence for his portrayal of the taxi dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television series ''Taxi'' (1978–1983), which won him a Gold ...

as a gas station owner, and

Justin Long Justin Jacob Long (born June 2, 1978) is an American actor, comedian, director and screenwriter. Long is known for his film roles, notably appearing in '' Jeepers Creepers'' (2001), ''Dodgeball'' (2004), '' Accepted'' (2006), ''Idiocracy'' (2 ...

as a meth dealer.

Plot

This film is an offbeat romantic comedy about Ray Tuckby, a decent guy with a dead-end life in the dead-end town of Trona, California. After discovering that his wife has had an affair with his brother Mark and that his son Eddie is actually Mark's son, he decides to start his life all over again. Ray's mother and sister die after they fight over his mother's secret

lemon meringue pie Lemon meringue pie is a dessert pie consisting of a shortened pastry base filled with lemon curd and topped with meringue. History Fruit desserts covered with baked meringue were found beginning in the 18th century in France. Menon's ''pom ...

recipe. After their funeral, his mother's lawyer gives Ray his share of his mother's legacy, including the recipe. He gives the legacy to Eddie for his college expenses, but Eddie says he is working for the local teenage

meth Methamphetamine (contracted from ) is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity. Methamphe ...

baron, Dirk. After Ray meets and takes encouragement from Merl, a new

Chevron Chevron (often relating to V-shaped patterns) may refer to: Science and technology * Chevron (aerospace), sawtooth patterns on some jet engines * Chevron (anatomy), a bone * '' Eulithis testata'', a moth * Chevron (geology), a fold in rock ...

gas station operator, Ray begins to dream again. Ray musters the nerve to pursue his childhood love, Nora, and after Dirk shuts down the town's electricity and water supplies, Ray and his neighbors finally plot a plan to take back his community by toppling Dirk. Ray then goes on to marry Nora and opens a restaurant with her, using his mother's lemon meringue pie as the signature dish. Eddie works as his chef while Spoonie, Denny and his wife work as waiters. Nora is also shown to be expecting a baby.

Cast

as Ray Tuckby *

Tracy Middendorf Tracy Lynn Middendorf (born January 26, 1970) is an American television, movie, and stage actress. Middendorf's most notable roles were in the horror film ''Wes Craven's New Nightmare'', the MTV series '' Scream'', and the HBO series ''Boardwalk ...

as Nora *

as Merl Stryker *

Penny Balfour Penny Balfour is a film and television actress. Selected filmography * '' Flawless'' (1999), as Cristal * '' Sidewalks of New York'' (2001), as Young Hooker * ''Drop Back Ten'' (2000), as Amanda Bennett * ''Ash Wednesday'' (2002), as Callie * ''A ...

as Charlene *

Will Rothhaar William Edward Lamar "Will" Rothhaar (born January 12, 1987) is an American actor. Early life Rothlaar was born in New York City, the son of Michael Rothhaar and Nancy Linehan Charles, both of whom are playwrights, actors and directors. He br ...

as Dirk *

as Spoonie *

Melissa McCarthy Melissa Ann McCarthy (born August 26, 1970) is an American actress, comedian, producer, writer, and fashion designer. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards, and nominations for two Academy Awards and tw ...

as Selma *

Anika Noni Rose Anika Noni Rose (born September 6, 1972) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for voicing Tiana, Disney's first African-American princess, as seen in ''The Princess and the Frog'' (2009). She was named a Disney Legend in 2011. ...

as R'ch'lle *

Jonah Hill Jonah Hill Feldstein (born December 20, 1983) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is known for his comedic roles in films including ''Superbad'' (2007), '' Knocked Up'' (2007), '' 21 Jump Street'' (2012), '' This Is the End'' (201 ...

as Eddie Tuckby *

June Squibb June Louise Squibb (born November 6, 1929) is an American actress. In 2013, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film ''Nebraska''. Squibb has appeared in the films ''Alice'', '' In & Out'', ''About Schm ...

as Mother * Brad Hunt as Denny *Lindsey Axelsson as Chrisy *

Chelsea Field Chelsea Field is an American actress. Career Field started her career as a Solid Gold Dancer, and one of her first television roles was on ''Airwolf''. She also played Teela in the 1987 film adaptation of ''Masters of the Universe''. She b ...

as Jeanne * Cerina Vincent as The Mrs. *

Tracey Walter Tracey Walter (born November 25, 1947) is an American character actor. He has appeared in more than 170 films and television series. Life and career Walter was born and grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the son of a truck driver. He has a ...

as Clem * Jenifer Boisvert as Nurse

External links

* *{{Rotten Tomatoes, 10009491_just_add_water 2008 films 2008 romantic comedy films American romantic comedy films Films directed by Hart Bochner Films scored by John Swihart Films set in California 2000s English-language films 2000s American films