Review of The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014) by Tony P — 05 Sep 2014

This feel good film based loosely on some book (aren't they all) comes with Production credits from Steven Spielberg and wait for it..Oprah Winfrey?

The main star is actress Helen Mirren who plays Frenchwoman Madame Mallory.

She runs a traditional French restaurant catering for upper class French like a military operation.

She judges staff by their cooking abilities along the lines of a BBC Masterchef judge. Just think a French woman Greg Wallace and you are getting there!

The Indian Kadam family headed by Om Puri as Papa Kadam relocate to Europe firstly to London directly underneath a Heathrow Airport flightpath and eventually a scenic French village.

Kadam decides it would be a good business opportunity to open an Indian restaurant to an ignorant French public.

Kadam's restaurant happens to be directly opposite Mallory's eatery.

Mallory's restaurant holds one prestigious Michelin star rating and it is her hunt for a second which forms the main gist of the story.

A young member of the Kadam family is keen to learn traditional French cuisine for some reason and he gains employment at Mallory's much to his father's annoyance.

His take on French dishes adding his own Indian style wins many admirers including French restaurant critics. The second star is acquired along with the progression of his career.

Mirren does seem to copy one of her most famous roles to date, that of the Queen at times.

The final quarter of the film turns into a little love story at times and it is for these reasons that I award this film three (Michelin) stars out of five.