CHEF – The Review

This new release about a highly successful artist returning to his more modest roots in order to re-ignite his passion for his craft could not only apply to the main title character, but to the man who plays him on-screen (who’s also the screenwriter, co-producer, and director). Over the past 20 years Jon Favreau’s had quite an interesting Hollywood career. The then struggling young actor channeled his career frustrations (and the night life exploits of his posse’) into a screenplay that became the low-budget indie hit of 1996 SWINGERS. From there he called the shots behind the camera on the equally independent MADE and soon graduated to bigger studio fare, the holiday-themed smash ELF and the kiddie SF tale ZATHURA: A SPACE ADVENTURE. Then came the man in gold and red. Favreau helmed the initial entry from Marvel Studios, IRON MAN and its sequel, which were box office behemoths. But his next studio foray, COWBOYS & ALIENS, sent his film making career crashing back to Earth. Now Favreau is back, after a few acting gigs, with a small character study that may connect with audiences more than wranglers ropin’ flying saucers. Just a word of warning: grab a bite to eat before you hit the theatre!

The chef of the film’s title is Carl Casper (Favreau), former culinary golden boy of Miami Beach, now running the kitchen of a trendy eatery in LA’s classy Brentwood area. When we meet Carl, he’s trying to ready his staff, overseen by his right hand men Martin (John Legizamo) and Tony (Bobby Cannavale) and hostess/girlfriend Molly (Scarlett Johannson), for a visit from restaurant critic/blogger Ramsey Michel (Oliver Platt) all while juggling some quality time with his ten year-old son Percy (Emjay Anthony) who lives with Carl’s ex-wife, business whiz Inez (Sofia Vergara). As the Dinner hour nears, Carl’s boss Riva (Dustin Hoffman) will not allow him to change the menu. That night Ramsey blasts the restaurant, particularly Carl, for playing it safe by serving the same items from a previous visit. With the help of Percy, Carl gets into an online war with the critic and sets up another re-do Dinner. But when the restaurant fills up, thanks to the internet chatter, Riva insists on the exact same entrees. Carl quits and later verbally assaults Ramsey (as all the patrons’ cellular devices record away). Luckily Inez has a plan: Carl will accompany her on a business trip to Miami as a nanny for Percy. The old haunts energize Carl, and with the help of Inez and another ex-hubby, he decides to put together a food truck, with the help of his young son and Martin. The three soon embark on a road trip adventure that will take them back to the West Coast as Carl’s career takes a new, exciting, risky turn.

For the last decade or so Favreau has been acting in supporting roles as he began concentrating on his behind the camera work. Here he’s back front and center as the lead and he displays much of the everyman, “working average Joe” charm he projected in SWINGERS and MADE that prodded audiences to root for his character. Carl’s a mellow, good guy who also has an artist’s passion as seen in the big verbal smack-down with his critical nemesis. . But the big bear of a man has a true tender side particularly in his scenes with his boy. Emjay Anthony is a sleepy-eyed mop-topped charmer who embodies a son at that short period right before the rebellious teen years. He wants to contact with Dad more than anything, although he’s still got a bit of the brat in him as when he becomes frustrated at cleaning the filthy food truck. Legizamo takes on the role of motor-mouthed wiseguy sidekick that Vince Vaughn assumed in those early films. He’ll bust your chops, but you couldn’t ask for a better guy beside you on the food line. Throw in the delightful Cannavale and the film has a great kitchen comedy trifecta. Just a few weeks ago FADING GIGOLO showed us the subdued side of the voluptuous Ms. Vergara and here we get to see a bit more, along with a ton of tenderness. Has there ever been a movie ex-wife as caring and encouraging as her Inez? There’s no bitterness or spite as she knows that her son should really get time with his Pop. We can’t help wonder what may have split them up in the recent past. Platt and Johansson has great moments on screen, as does Hoffman as the older, but not wiser, money man who will not budge from the tried and true. But the big scene stealer is Robert Downey, Jr. as Inez’s first husband Marvin who sets Carl up with the dirty, dilapidated mobile eatery. The sequence of Carl conversing with Marv in his too-plush office (shoe baggies, please!) may be the movie’s highlight. How about a buddy road-trip with those fellas?

Actually that might offer up many more laughs than the trip that comprises the film’s third act. It’s in these travelogue-like sequences (Nola! Austin!) when the film stumbles and becomes a tad repetitive. They arrive, take in some local color, cook for long lines of appreciative diners, count the cash, and relax to some local musicians. But this doesn’t take away from the entertaining first two acts. The restaurant politics and hierarchy is compelling and very funny as all scurry about like nervy thespians about to perform a new play (well, in a way…). The story crashes into a few comic clichés concerning technology and social media. Daddy Carl bumbles and stumbles on the internet while his boy is almost a computer savant with a mastery of all software and web graphics (showing outgoing tweets as animated bluebirds is a bit cutesy). This won’t matter to diehard “foodies” out there because this film is some mighty tasty “food porn” ranking right up there with BIG NIGHT and DINNER RUSH. At times you’ll wish you could reach up to the screen and yank off a tender morsel of the delicacies (3D would make it too tempting). Carl’s not an eloquent man, but he enjoys expressing his affection by using his culinary skills whether it’s whipping up some late night pasta for Molly or toasting an impossibly delicious grilled cheese sandwich for Percy’s lunch (yeah, it’s just a grilled cheese, but it’ll make your mouth water!). Favreau has proved himself adept at blockbusters, but he’s not lost his touch with smaller, more personal stories. Like Carl, he’s proven that he doesn’t need the fancy bells and whistles (like a trendy LA bistro), he just needs the basics, with a touch of heat and spice. Overall CHEF is a pretty solid satisfying movie meal. Now, I wonder what’s in the fridge…

3.5 Out of 5