You know that feeling when you find a movie that just gets it? Not the Hollywood version of "it," but the messy, sweaty, living-in-a-van, falling-in-all-the-wrong-ways version of reality. That’s Better Than Chocolate. Released in 1999, it wasn't just another indie flick. It was a moment. And honestly, the Better Than Chocolate cast is the reason we’re still talking about it while other late-90s rom-coms have gathered digital dust.
They weren't just playing roles. They were representing a community that, at the time, was barely allowed to exist on screen without being a punchline or a tragedy.
The Chemistry of Maggie and Kim
The heart of the thing is Maggie, played by Karyn Dwyer. Maggie is... well, she’s a lot. She’s young, she’s high-energy, and she’s trying to run a feminist bookstore in Vancouver while her life is basically a chaotic jigsaw puzzle. Dwyer brought this wide-eyed, nervous electricity to the role that made you root for her even when she was being incredibly awkward.
Then you have Kim.
Christina Cox as Kim was a revelation. It’s hard to overstate how cool she seemed to audiences in 1999. She was a van-dwelling artist, comfortable in her skin, and she had this grounded, calm energy that balanced Maggie’s frantic pace perfectly. Most people recognize Cox now from Shadowhunter or Nikita, but for a specific generation of film lovers, she will always be the woman painting in the back of a van. Their chemistry wasn't forced. It felt like that actual, terrifying spark you feel when you meet someone who might actually change your life.
It’s crazy to think about how much their performances anchored a movie that could have easily felt too "niche" for the mainstream. Instead, it became one of the highest-grossing Canadian films of all time.
Beyond the Romance: The Supporting Powerhouses
If the movie was just a romance, it might have been forgotten. But the Better Than Chocolate cast included Wendy Crewson and Peter Outerbridge, who turned the volume up on the emotional stakes.
📖 Related: Wrong Address: Why This Nigerian Drama Is Still Sparking Conversations
Wendy Crewson played Lila, Maggie’s mom. If you’ve seen her in The Santa Clause or Air Force One, you know she’s usually the "composed professional" type. In this, she’s a grieving, slightly repressed woman who moves in with her daughter and has no idea she’s living in a queer household. The scene where she discovers the "toys" in the bookstore? Pure gold. Crewson managed to play the comedy without making Lila a villain. You felt her confusion, her fear of the unknown, and eventually, her growth.
And then there’s Judy.
Peter Outerbridge as Judy is arguably the soul of the film. Playing a trans woman in 1999 was a massive undertaking, and while today we’d prioritize casting a trans actress for the role, Outerbridge’s performance was handled with incredible dignity and depth for the era. Judy wasn't a caricature. She was a lounge singer facing systemic violence and personal loneliness. Her rendition of "I’m My Own Hero" is the emotional peak of the film. It's the moment the movie stops being a comedy and starts being a manifesto about self-worth.
The Vancouver Scene and Why It Worked
The setting was a character itself. 1990s Vancouver felt gritty and rainy and real. The cast didn't look like they’d spent four hours in a makeup chair. They looked like people who lived in Commercial Drive.
Ann-Marie MacDonald played Frances, the bookstore owner, and she brought a certain intellectual weight to the ensemble. MacDonald is a world-class novelist in her own right—if you haven't read Fall on Your Knees, you’re missing out—and her presence gave the film's "activist" subplot a sense of legitimacy. It wasn't just "protest for the sake of the script." It felt like the actual battles being fought over censorship and LGBTQ+ literature at the time.
The film deals with the Canada Customs seizure of "obscene" materials, which was a very real thing that happened to stores like Little Sister’s in Vancouver. Having a cast that understood the stakes made those scenes hit harder.
👉 See also: Who was the voice of Yoda? The real story behind the Jedi Master
Life After the Bookstore: Where Are They Now?
People always ask what happened to everyone after the credits rolled.
Karyn Dwyer continued to work in the Canadian industry for years, though her life was tragically cut short in 2018. Her passing was a massive blow to the indie film community, and it sparked a huge wave of nostalgia for Better Than Chocolate. It reminded everyone that she wasn't just an actress; she was a symbol of a very specific, hopeful era of queer cinema.
Christina Cox has had an incredible career. She’s basically a staple of Canadian and American television. You’ve seen her in everything from Bones to Arrow. She’s one of those actors who brings a certain level of "toughness with a heart" to every role she takes on.
Wendy Crewson is Canadian royalty. Period. She’s won more awards than most people have shoes. She’s still working constantly, recently appearing in Departure and Good Witch. She remains one of those rare actors who can jump between high-stakes drama and lighthearted comedy without missing a beat.
Peter Outerbridge is everywhere. If you watch Canadian TV, you’ve seen him in Murdoch Mysteries, The Umbrella Academy, or ReGenesis. He’s a chameleon. The fact that he could play Judy so tenderly and then turn around and play a gritty detective or a villainous scientist speaks to the range he brought to that 1999 set.
Why the Movie Still Hits the Discover Feed
Why does the Better Than Chocolate cast keep popping up in our feeds?
✨ Don't miss: Not the Nine O'Clock News: Why the Satirical Giant Still Matters
It’s because the movie feels honest. In a world of over-polished streaming content, there’s something refreshing about a film where the lighting is a bit dim and the characters are genuinely struggling with their rent. It’s a "found family" story before that became a tired trope.
The movie tackled:
- Transphobia and safety.
- Coming out to parents who aren't ready to hear it.
- The importance of physical spaces (like bookstores) for marginalized people.
- Sexual liberation without the male gaze.
Most rom-coms from twenty years ago feel dated or even offensive today. Better Than Chocolate has its "of its time" moments, sure, but the core of it—the performances—holds up. It’s a time capsule of a community trying to figure itself out.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and New Viewers
If you’re looking to revisit the film or dive into the world of the Better Than Chocolate cast for the first time, here’s how to do it right.
- Watch the Restoration: There are high-definition versions available now that make the Vancouver rain look much better than the old VHS copies we all used to pass around.
- Check out the Soundtrack: The music was just as much a part of the cast as the actors. Tracks by Holly McNarland and The Be Good Tanyas defined the "Lilith Fair" vibe of the era.
- Explore Christina Cox’s Action Work: If you liked her as Kim, watch Nikki and Nora or Blood Ties. She’s a powerhouse in the action genre.
- Read Ann-Marie MacDonald: Since she played Frances, her books have become modern classics. The Way the Crow Flies is a must-read if you want to understand the depth she brings to her creative work.
- Support Queer Bookstores: The central conflict of the movie—the survival of Maggie’s bookstore—is still a reality for many independent shops. Find one in your city and buy a physical book.
The legacy of this cast isn't just a movie on a shelf. It’s the way they made people feel seen at a time when the world was looking the other way. It’s messy, it’s funny, and it’s still better than chocolate.