"Chef" Review

I'm a little reluctant to review Chef seeing as Jon Favreau's main character launches into an angry diatribe describing the problem with critics, which hit home with me. I commend Favreau for his forthrightness in his opinion, and he raised valid points, but I'm not going to let it deter me. I happened to like the movie anyway. 

Chef Carl Casper is working in a well known restaurant in Los Angeles, crafting a new creative menu for an internet critic who is coming in to review. However, his boss forces him to stick to his old familiar menu which causes the critic to deride Chef Carl for not taking risks. Carl loses his temper on the critic, and also loses his passion. He travels to Miami with his ex-wife in order for him to reconnect with his son, but he also finds a creative outlet. 

Along with his honesty, I must also commend Jon Favreau for making it feel so authentic. Not only has he clearly done his research in learning how to cook, the food looks absolutely amazing. One clamors for a movie theater restaurant so that you could enjoy the movie that much more. But, this just may be my stomach talking. 

Emotionally, we find a rich tapestry of human connection and connectivity. I mean, I don't really know anyone with this kind of camaraderie with their ex-wife, but we are led to believe the split was amicable and they clearly communicate well enough for the sake of their son. He's clearly not the best father he could be, but the performances between Favreau and Emjay Anthony lend some truth to the idea the most strained relationships can be repaired. Favreau's script is deftly detailed and rich with enough catharsis and pay off to make it a fun ride. 

I also love the social media incorporation, which signals our changing times as well as comments on the dangers that each of them presents. 

However, I can't really justify some casting decisions. Robert Downey Jr. is one of the 5 actors who can guarantee my spot in a theater. He is one of my absolute favorites, and I welcome his presence here. Yet, it feels like a cheat. His character is little more than a cameo. He comes across with extremely intriguing quirks that could be explored more. I wish they could have either delved deeper, or just not told us ahead of time that he would be in the movie so that his brief appearance could have been a pleasant surprise. 

Otherwise, I love the acting. Jon Favreau has spent majority of the past decade writing and directing, yet this is the first time he's given himself a major acting role. He is charming, and honest with a grittiness that makes him more relatable and understandable. He has some flaws, but he never pushes us away.

Sofia Vergara also has a wonderful presence. Rather than come across as the controlling, fun-sucking ex-wife, she is welcoming and supportive to bring out the better qualities of our protagonist. It's a good change of pace from the tired old cliche.

I wish I could sum it up without resorting to food puns, but it's hard to call Chef anything but delectable and delicious. It's full of heart, humor, honesty, and enough imagery to make your mouth water. 

B+