Review of Chef (2014) by Schwinn D — 29 Dec 2014

Film and Food enthusiasts unite. This is a rare movie where I can't find anything wrong with it. Does that mean it's the best movie ever? Not by a long shot. However, for what the movie is I have no complaints whatsoever and that's no small thing. From beginning to end it's a seamless feel-good affair.

Praises all around for acting, especially newcomer Emjay Anthony who restored my faith in child actors. It's not that he blew me away, it's that he didn't once make me want to cringe. He was an integral part of the movie and he felt like he belonged with all these seasoned actors. It was nice to see Downey Jr. step out of Tony Stark into a new role, albeit a Tony Stark reminiscent one. His screen time was just above cameo status, but it was fun to watch him nonetheless.

I'm never keen on directors casting themselves in their movies, especially as the lead, but Favreau carries the movie very well. I enjoyed listening to everything Carl Casper had to say. The way he presents himself is fun, even in the simplest of moments.

But let's talk about the REAL star of the film. Food. This movie's alternative title could have been "Foodie's Delight" and there's nothing wrong with that. I do say star with some seriousness. The extensive time spent with just a single meal is done in a way that's not laborious, but somehow makes a connection between the viewer and food. Some may have felt to much screen time was given to food and nothing else. That might have been the case if it were just ordinary food. But of course it's not. It's the most tantalizing series of intangible dishes I've had the pleasure of witnessing. I was actually having a good meal while watching this movie and I suddenly felt like what I was eating was insufficient. If you appreciate fine eats then you should see this movie. If you don't you will once you've seen "Chef".

The story and delivery don't push any boundaries but hits all the right notes to make a beautiful familiar melody. Combined with delicious food and fine cast "Chef" delivers a story that is surprisingly wholesome. Despite an R rating it has a PG heart. The only reason parents shouldn't share this movie with their children is the frequent usage of the f-word. Otherwise I'd actually encourage parents to show this movie to kids. The theme revolving around family is well explored along with a surprising, but welcome, crash course into the effects (both positive and negative) of social media.

"Chef" starts with a foreseeable slippery slope of loss, will have you rooting for Casper to climb back up and find his heart and happiness, and ends with a legitimately delightful conclusion. It skips the nonsense of twists and turns of manipulative story, and jumps straight to the organic feel good moments. Again, no complaints.

Side Review: I saw "Chef" on DVD and had time to kill with some deleted scenes and outtakes. I don't make it my business to watch tons of outtakes, but I think I've seen enough to say that "Chef" has one of the best. The original scene of Casper on the phone with a publicist (played by Amy Sedaris) is funny. The extended version where Sedaris just runs with it and rambles for several minutes is uproarious. If the outtake hadn't been so tonally different from the rest of the movie I would have put it in in a heartbeat. Sedaris needs more work.

Side note: We have Scarlett Johansson, Jon Favreau, and Robert Downey Jr. all in the same movie again. If I had a complaint about the movie it would be that it wasn't the "Iron Man 2" gang going on a road trip selling sandwiches. And El Jefe was weaponized. I'd see that version of "Iron Man 2". It could be called "Iron Chef".