Chef
CAST
Jon Favreau, John Leguizamo
RATING
R
RELEASE
May 9, 2014 (NY/LA)
May 16, 2014 (EXPANDED)
DIRECTOR
Jon Favreau
STUDIO
Open Road Films
RUNNING TIME
1 hour 54 minutes
STARS
***1/2
REVIEW:
I was honestly taken by surprise by not only how fresh and sweet Jon Favreau's return to indie filmmaking, "Chef," was, but also how much it incorporated social media into the plot. Popular sites and apps such as Twitter and Vine are all incorporated into the film's narrative, and it actually helps to move the story along. This film is about Carl Casper, one of the most renowned chefs in all of Los Angeles. After having a massive breakdown in front of a prestigious food critic, as well as the hundreds of people around him with their cell phones recording him, Casper travels across the country with his son and supportive ex-wife down to Miami in order to open a food truck business. The plot might sound a little generic and nothing special, but there's more to this little indie gem that meets the eye.
The acting from everyone, regardless of how large or small their parts are, is great and a lot of fun to watch. The film, in a way, serves as a metaphor for John Favreau returning to his "roots," meaning his independent film roots from the 90s after years of working on movies like "Iron Man" for the past decade or so. To me, this movie as a whole is the definition of a modern crowd-pleaser, and the reason for that is because it's so hard not to smile during this movie thanks to its uplifting nature. Despite the R rating, which is mostly for language, this is a great movie to see with the family. Despite the ending being rushed and the movie itself having one or two plot holes in there that come to mind, "Chef" is a great little gem that is just as smart and crafty as it is charming and funny. But, just a suggestion for those who do go see this, this two hour flick will make you hungry thanks to the incredible looking food made on screen. My suggestion: either have a nice meal before seeing this movie or grab a quick little bite after the film ends.
PREVIEWS YOU MAY SEE:
Boyhood
The Green Inferno
The Fault in Our Stars
Jersey Boys
Tammy
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