Chef *** (2014, Jon Favreau) – Movie Review

Jon Favreau writes, directs and stars as talented but obstinate chef Carl Casper, who falls out with his restaurant boss (Dustin Hoffman), quits his chef job and starts up selling from a food truck in this flavourful, tasty foodie labour of love. With his creative promise cramped at work, and no work when he chucks his job, Carl’s life and career are looking pretty much in the garbage can.

But then his ex-wife in Miami offers him an offbeat lifeline – an old food truck to refit to offer quality cooking on his own terms. With the help of an extended family and drumming up business via the internet, he soon makes a mint and his self-esteem back selling cheffy Cuban sandwiches.

There’s lots and lots of laughter and a few tears along the way to a fairy-tale happy ending in Favreau’s cheering feel-good movie. If only life were really like this! Ah well, it’s only a movie – and a most entertaining and diverting one.

The weak points of the film all link to its wish occasionally to be serious and meaningful, but the film’s just not realistic at all, though of course it pretends to be. All the bits connected with Oliver Platt and his role as famous but obnoxious restaurant critic Ramsey Michel are fake, phony and not amusing or credible. And that unfortunately damages the ending.

Hoffman, Scarlett Johansson as waitress Molly and Bobby Cannavale as sous chef Tony, who gets suddenly promoted to chef by Hoffman when Favreau walks out, are all excellent, though their early-in-the-film promising roles more or less just disappear, and quite frustratingly.

Favreau’s Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr has a faintly embarrassing, OTT cameo as Marvin and Sofía Vergara is wobbly as the fiery Inez. But John Leguizamo is marvellous as Carl’s food truck buddy Martin, warm and friendly and funny, with plenty to do. Emjay Anthony appealingly plays Carl’s young son, Percy, who climbs aboard the food truck with for the summer and whose tech savvy is the key to success.

As comedy actor, Favreau brings some welcome offbeat edge to his performance that breathes life and some toughness into his role. Favreau’s screen-writing is good, pretty fresh and funny, with plenty of amusing dialogue and intriguing situations.

Playing like a superior extended TV sitcom episode, this is a thoroughly likeable, good-hearted escapist comedy movie that tastes good.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Movie Review

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