5 STAR WEEKEND-Earns a Paltry 3 Despite Star Power Jennifer Garner/Timothy Olypant

"The Five-Star Weekend" based on the bestselling book by Elin Hilderbrand now airing on Netflix. It features an assembly star cast led by the beautiful and bankable Jennifer Garner. Garner plays Hollis Shaw who we meet making a boat load of impressive Xmas cookies with snow covered evergreens outside her cozy kitchen window. The serene scene is interrupted by knocking at her door. The police came to inform Hollis her husband was killed in a car accident. (Her shocked response makes her look like a fish gasping for air.) Next we jump ahead to 6 months later to sunny skies outside the windows of her stunning Cape Cod home on the Vineyard. Hollis is a celebrity chef and an influencer. After breaking down crying on a TV celebrity talk show mourning her husband, her publicist tells her to take time off . She suggests getting together with her closest friends from the varying decades in her life. The chums all come from different periods in her life and backgrounds. What's the worse that can happen? Sadly, nothing worth noting happens that is credible just easily digestible fare in a gorgeous setting with good actors. Regina Hall plays a PR agent for celebrity athletes and is put on sabbatical for a PR crisis of her own making. Chloe Sevigny, plays her best friend since childhood. Chloe's mom helped raised Hollis after her mother died when she was young. Chloe plays a no-nonsense broad with gusto but may soon be facing chemo. D'Arcy Carden plays the garrulous, funny friend who wants to fit in. She may have a few mysterious plot lines. We know of an arch enemy in Judy Greer who was not invited and an unknown legal battles looming. And, the sultry Gemma Chan who only recently joined the gang. She ingratiated herself into Hollis' good graces by following her and developing a connection since her husband's death. (Nothing to be concerned about here). Timothy Olyphant as her old beau from the hood in Nantucket. Will they or won't hook-up? Really? Throw in Hollis' coed daughter, She's keeping things from her mother and falling for the wrong boy back home during the female pow wow weekend designed to ease the widow's grief.  Hollis is super organized along with her culinary skills. She's charted plans for the entire 3 nights which includes a pajama dance party while drunk following a salacious round of truth or dare. If you dare to watch this 8 part series which seems promising given the talent and Hilderbrand's beach book plot.  Know this is light entertainment at best when not cringe worthy schmaltz. There's predictable broad strokes; secrets revealed and spirits healed. I wouldn't throw this show in the trash with the burnt tarte Tatin. It does it best with good ingredients and intentions, but fails to rise to any great expectations.