Linda Palmer’s Turnover opens with a pair of hands make some lush cherry turnovers. The rest of the film turns out to be just as pleasing as that beginning sequence. Turnover follows Peter (Paul Guilfoyle), the owner of Creperie Cafe, an older gentleman going through a mid-life crisis of sorts. His wife Fran has left him for another man, and amid health concerns and high stress, his doctor has urged him to take a much-needed vacation.
After promising his trusted manager Henry (Riker Lynch), a franchise of the restaurant, Peter leaves the cafe in his hands. Unfortunately, when Fran informs Henry that he will not be at the helm of the new Creperie Cafe, he begins seeking revenge for being overlooked, purposely throwing Peter’s perfectly ordered business into a world of chaos.
When Peter returns from his vacation, he finds his restaurant turned on its head. Henry is nowhere to be found, and in his place is an entirely new staff. He’s left to contend with a new and rather nervous manager, William (Adwin Brown), a cook, Miguel (Carlos Carrasco) who only makes Mexican food, and a misfit group of waitstaff who have been given year-long contracts.
For someone who has had a tight-reign over everything in his restaurant for decades, Peter nearly blows a gasket when it comes to the changes, reacting harshly before coming to his senses and giving his new staff an opportunity to proves themselves.
Many of the actors in the ensemble are admittedly green. They stumble slightly through some of the nuances and cadences of their characters on-screen. Yet, Guilfoyle, a veteran actor, acts as a pillar leading the cast and the narrative over the finish line. Though they aren’t always perfect, the actors give depth, heart, and individuality to all of their characters, assuring that they’ll stand out equally instead of just fading into the movie’s large character ensemble.
Turnover initially gets off to a slow start. As Palmer establishes the café and Peter’s relationship with Henry and Fran, the audience isn’t sure exactly what to expect. However, as the film steps into its second half, the real meaning of the story begins to come into focus. Since Peter, albeit reluctantly gives the group a chance when no one else did, they rally around him when he needs it most.
From hilarious to downright outlandish moments, the best things about Turnover are the lessons learned. We often make assumptions about our life’s goals and plans, or how other people will contribute to our lives and relate to us. However, what Peter soon discovers is what matters most is not simply monetary or business success, it’s people who bring the most meaning into our lives.
Though Turnover has several laugh-out-loud moments, the length two-hour runtime could have been easily chopped down for a cleaner edit. However, despite the film's nearly too-perfect ending, Peter gets a new outlook on life and brings some people together that otherwise would’ve never connected. Turnover is the perfect amount of sugar and sweet.
Turnover is currently available on VOD.