By now, I’m sure that most of you have heard one thing or another about “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” Most of the buzz surrounding this movie is positive, and I’m not here to dispute that. I initially wanted to introduce myself through a review of “X-Men,” but seeing as how the film has already pulled in a whopping $216 million, I decided to review a pleasant little indie film called “Chef” instead.
“Chef,” starring Jon Favreau (who also wrote and directed), John Leguizamo and Sofia Vergara, is a bit more complex than its title lets on. The plot revolves around Chef Carl Casper (Favreau) who suddenly quits his job at a high-class Los Angeles restaurant in favor of buying a food truck and exploring the creative freedom that being his own boss affords him.
During this culinary endeavor, Casper also finds an opportunity to reconnect with his distant son and worried ex-wife. The plot of the film is nothing to write home about, but the dialogue and chemistry between everyone on screen is so enjoyable that you forget about how generic the overarching plot is.
The film is surprisingly hip to the effects that social media has had on small business, but thankfully, it’s neither cynical nor critical of how services like Twitter have changed the entrepreneurial landscape. Sure, jokes are made about the instantaneous consensuses that are made as a result of social media, but most of the humor revolves around the alienation elder generations experience while attempting to use social media. It’s quite refreshing to see a film that not only acknowledges how useful social media is to small businesses, but wholeheartedly embraces the benefits of being able to instantly reach out to fans and followers.
However, just because the film is tech-savvy doesn’t mean that Favreau has ignored the importance of true human interaction. Many of the film’s most intimate moments come from simple conversations and interactions between characters. New ground is never really broken, and it would be a stretch to call this film ‘edgy,’ but the flow of dialogue in the film just feels so real and heartfelt that nearly every character becomes relatable.
Nothing feels forced, and the severe lack of melodrama in the film keeps it that much more grounded in reality. I was never worried about the lives of these characters being in danger, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t invested in seeing them succeed. A large part of this is due to how infectious the upbeat tone of the film is.
The thumping soundtrack certainly helps move the film along at a brisk pace, peppering in a mix of Cuban instrumentals and modern hits wherever appropriate. The music complements the film’s less dialogue-heavy scenes, especially the scenes that showcase Favreau’s eye for gorgeous cooking segments. There are times that this film feels like the most well-produced Food Network segment ever made. The camera often lingers just long enough on a meal in the making, and the framing of many of the cooking segments proves that Favreau and his director of photography are no pedestrian cinematographers. Trust me, you don’t want to see this film on an empty stomach. If you do, at least make sure you have some popcorn to snack on during the mouth-watering scenes.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this film, there are a few caveats regarding how much you may enjoy it. If my review has made the film seem appealing in any way, you would probably enjoy this film. However, if you are fan of more dire, dangerous circumstances and copious amounts of action in your films, “Chef” would probably feel like a waste of time. Although I felt that the ending of the film was a bit too abrupt, it would feel like nitpicking to hold that one criticism against the film.
“Chef” gets my recommendation for being heartfelt, intimate and funny in all the right places. It’s a great film to start the summer with, and if you have even a passing interest in either food or humor, I highly recommend you give it a chance.
