DVD Review: “Chef” Written and Directed by Jon Favreau

By on November 5, 2014

Director:

Jon Favreau (“Elf”, the Iron Man movies)

Main Cast:

Jon Favreau (“Swingers”, “I Love You, Man”, “The Wolf of Wall Street”)

John Leguizamo (“Carlito’s Way”, “Summer of Sam”, “Moulin Rouge”)

Bobby Canavale (“The Station Agent”, “Win Win”, “Blue Jasmine”)

Running Time:  114 Minutes

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Chef posterAlong with “Fading Gigolo”, “Chef” is one of the year’s independent movies I looked forward to watching.  Unlike “Fading Gigolo”, I found the story sincere and enjoyable and the performances honest.  One point “Chef” has in its favor is my appreciation for good movies that include the theme of showing good cooks practicing their craft, like Alfonso Arau’s 1992 “Como Agua Para Chocolate” (“Like Water for Chocolate”) and Thai director Ekachai Uekrongtham’s 2004 “Beautiful Boxer” (both of which I recommend highly).

Carl Casper (Jon Favreau, who also produced) is a chef whose career began in Miami ten years earlier on the basis of a positive review by influential food blogger Ramsey Michel (Oliver Platt).  Now the chef of a popular LA neighborhood restaurant and to challenge himself, Carl wants to cook a meal for Michel with off-the-menu items.  The restaurant’s owner, Riva (Dustin Hoffman), instead insists on sticking with the regular menu and Michel’s resulting review is brutal.

Chef emj verg legu

Jon Favreau, Emjay Anthony, Sophia Vergara and John Leguizamo

The aftermath, which includes a Twitter flame fight between chef and critic and Casper vehemently confronting Ramsey in the (packed) restaurant.  It’s bad enough Casper loses his temper in confronting Michel but someone captures the tirade on video with a smart phone and posts it on the internet.  As a result, Carl loses his job and becomes a pariah no other restaurant will hire. Not knowing which way to turn and inspired to be his own boss by his girlfriend, restaurant hostess Molly (Scarlett Johansson) and amiable ex-wife Inez (Sofia Vergara), Carl goes to Miami and, with his young son Percy (Emjay Anthony), renovates an old food truck.  He begins by specializing in Cuban sandwiches.  Then the pair, along with one of Carl’s former line cooks, Martin (John Leguizamo), drive the fully functioning food truck to LA, adding what they learn and experience during stops in New Orleans (Cajun) and Texas (barbeque) to the truck’s menu.  A second and equally important purpose of the trip and new business venture is for Carl to repair his relationship with his son.

chef JF cookingAll the film’s characters are uncomplicated and the performances are good.  The movie is anchored by the scenes where Favreau prepares (he cuts up an entire pig early on) and cooks meals in the restaurant, at home, and on the truck.  He really looks like he knows what he’s doing and even adds a flair to the process.  (During the closing credits, we watch him being coached on how to cook by Roy Choi, one of the founders of the food truck movement.)

chef fav choi

Favreau with Roy Choi

Unlike her forced, affected performance in “Fading Gigolo”, Vergara’s portrayal of the sympathetic and supportive Inez is pleasant and comforting.  It’s a welcome change to see her downplay her accent and body language from what we see on Modern Family.  Platt, Cannavale (with his usual great delivery), Hoffman, Johansson, and Robert Downey Jr. (as Carl’s business partner) contribute to the film given the minimal screen time they all have.  Lequizamo is his usual mile-a-minute self and he’s well cast.  Anthony is sufficient but, at that age, there’s not much a child actor can do other than repeat the lines given to them just before their scenes are shot.*

Social media, specifically Twitter, plays a significant role.  Its importance to the story and its influence on Carl’s career are blatant to the point the movie almost comes across as a Twitter infomercial.  Because of the current and omnipresent emphasis on social media ─ which has made people more impatient, insecure, egomaniacal, self-promotional, and desperate ─ it was a part of the storyline I didn’t care for.

The Chef trailer - Scarlett Johansson, Sofia Vergara, Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr and Dustin Hoffman

Vergara and Scarlett Johansson

One thing I thought about (and similar to the situation with John Turturro’s character in “Fading Gigolo”) was how someone as overweight (which plays into the story) as Carl could have beautiful women like Inez (who is also wealthy) and Molly as ex-wife and girlfriend.  Women with depth and perspective can be attracted to a man as talented and passionate as Carl.

I’ve kept an eye on Favreau’s Hollywood progression since “Swingers”, which he wrote and starred in (the scene where his character leaves numerous fumbling messages on the message machine of a girl he dated is one of my all-time favorite cringe-inducers).  I appreciate the success he’s had with the “Iron Man” movies but blockbusters are the opposite of what I want to see from Favreau.  “Chef” is a welcome return to his “Swingers” form.  It also reminds us that a movie can be good and enjoyable without having Oscar expectations and odds attached to it.  It’s just a warm, enjoyable, sincere movie about relationships, people following their passions despite (and because of) the obstacles.  And it’s about the disproportionate influence of social media.  And it’s about creating and eating good food.

DPW

November 3, 2014

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* Exceptions that come to mind include Haley Joel Osment in “The Sixth Sense” and “A.I.” and Quvenzhané Wallis in “Beasts of the Southern Wild.”

This is not to say that all heavy-set males of Italian descent (his dad is part Italian) look the same but, clean-shaven in a suit and tie and with this facial expression, doesn’t Favreau give off a Tony Soprano vibe?

chef favreau clean shaven

About Dan Walker

As part of an Air Force family, I went to elementary school in Great Falls, MT, junior high in Cheyenne, WY and high school and college in the San Francisco Bay Area, graduating from San Francisco State University with a degree in business. I was fortunate to have worked for great companies in Silicon Valley (Oracle Corp) and Hollywood (Miramax Films). I also lived and worked (primarily in financial services, which has no great companies) for eight years in Manhattan, New York City. I now reside in New York's beautiful Hudson Valley.

2 comments on “DVD Review: “Chef” Written and Directed by Jon Favreau

  1. The photo absolutely looks like Soprano. Wouldn’t have recognized Favreau. Looks like a very enjoyable story.
    I really enjoy well known actors playing very small roles that allow their skills to make memorable scenes and characters.
    Dan

  2. Jeremy Walker on said:

    Thanks again Dan for a great review. Spot on. I read this before I saw it and read your review after I watched it. Enjoyed it both times. Thanks!

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