Thursday, June 19, 2014

A Summer Movie Recommendation

It's been quite a while since I went to the movies and saw something I really enjoyed.  This past weekend however was the exception.  "Chef", starring Jon Favreau, John Leguizamo, Dustin Hoffman, Scarlet Johansson, Sofia Vagara, and Robert Downey Jr., was released in late May.  Not being a big blockbuster film, it didn't open in all theaters, and I figured I'd have to go downtown in order to see it.  Instead, a couple of weeks later it began showing in one of our nearby theaters.  Some friends and I made plans to see it Sunday afternoon.  What a nice movie!

The gist....Jon Favreau plays a famous Los Angeles chef who finds himself in a cooking rut.  After receiving a bad review from a restaurant blogger the chef engages in a social media war with the reviewer.  This ultimately causes the chef to loose his job but sends him on a journey back to his cooking roots in Miami and finally reinvents himself as a chef while driving cross country in a food truck back to Los Angeles.  He forges a relationship with his son while on the journey as well.

"Chef" is, for the most part, your typical feel-good movie, but its culturally current subject matter modernizes the genre.  The "rockstar" chef, food as art, social networking, and food trucks are all very trendy these days and have been brought to the forefront of this movie.  Of course, trendy isn't going to work on its own.  The script is charming and witty without being pretentious.   In addition, there is a great soundtrack and amazing cinematography (the food presentation is mouthwatering).

The Sunday matinee crowd was an equal mix of men and women spanning the adult age range.  There were no little kids squirming in their seats (which is a rarity these days as some parents seem to think it's appropriate to bring their kids to non-kid-friendly movies), but then again it's not a movie for kids.  At the end of the film, the almost packed house gave it a round of applause.  I've found clapping at the end of a movie usually happens after the hero has saved the day in an action movie.  In this case, the crowd simply enjoyed the film.  I'm not really a movie clapper, but I too liked "Chef" very much and joined in on the clapping.

This review does come with a warning... DON'T GO HUNGRY!  The food shots are very appealing so your snack of popcorn, candy, or brought-from-home carrots will simply not satisfy compared to the food in the movie.  My friends and I had plans to eat at one of our favorite down and dirty Mexican restaurants when it was over.  After the movie however, nothing we ate was really quite as satisfying as the food in the movie seemed to be.  Other than that...two thumbs up!

14 comments:

  1. That is a review that might make me actually go to a cinema.
    I was really getting sick of the HDR action schlock where you felt you needed your own flash lamp to help see the thing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That actually looks like darn good fun. The trailer played btw. Usually they don't.
      I thought RD Jr. was the star. And I always liked Hofman. It took career balls to play Tootsie back in the 80s.

      Delete
    2. Robert Downey Jr. is in the movie for no more than maybe 5 minutes. Actually, all the "big" stars make an appearance along with appearances by some real chefs. Sofia Vagara, from Modern Family fame, is in it as a supporting actress throughout. Other than that Favreau is the central actor. The YouTube videos load strangely, even based on device. Most show up on my computer screen, no problem, but it's hit and miss on the iPad and never on the iPhone. I wonder if it's a regional thing over your way...but I don't really understand how that can even be an issue with the internet. Is YouTube in Europe different stuff? It's strange.
      Anyhow, this time of year those type of action movies run rampant. They're all the big blockbusters geared towards the masses and the kids who are on vacation. It's ironic that during the time of year I can go to the movies anytime I want, I don't actually want to see anything. Don't get me wrong, I like a GOOD action movie as much as anyone, but in the summer they seem to be a lot more action and a lot less substance.

      Delete
  2. First, I have to say I love your font. It's so cute and fun!

    This looks like my kind of movie, not too sure about my husband. He enjoys cooking shows so he may like it. Our anniversary is coming up, we usually do dinner and a movie, so I will keep this one in mind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yah, it was like watching a cooking show. Isn't it funny how we WATCH cooking shows. Being void of both taste and smell which seem to be the main component of food. Just goes to show how important the presentation is. This movie's food presentation is gorgeous.

      Delete
  3. The internet service providers are tasked, or perhaps decided, to block any and all content that the uploader requests. So I cannot see any show open to your supply. Mostly. SNL is just such a show. But I think it is on pay for view satellite.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It must be the TV shows mostly - like SNL or Jon Stewart (I know you've mentioned that being blocked before too) - that are put on YouTube via the network or show. Neither of those shows are paid TV for us, so why would they care if you watch it. You'd think that would be more viewership for them.
      You're up early (or late)! ;)

      Delete
  4. Yeah, hurt a foot. Went to the doctor yesterday for the first time since 2010 and got some painkillers and a bloody raft of other stuff I may use.
    You might have seen my focus was somewhat flexible since I wasn't able to do much by way of work.
    I really should have gone much earlier in the week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohhhh noooo, I'm sorry to hear that. A bum foot is quite an inconvenience isn't it. Was it a hiking injury? I hope the pain killers are helping, but I'd imagine resting it is probably the best medicine. Is Jess letting you get that rest? :)

      Delete
  5. No,it was a bit inflamed in the joints last week. But it seemed to get better as the day progressed only to have it go nuts overnight. But once I took the painkillers and antiinflammatory it settled things, except for the ping of hyper awareness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad that the meds are helping some. But what a shame that they're keeping you awake. I don't have that reaction to painkillers...in my limited experience of the one or two times I've needed them. In fact my reaction is the exact opposite - groggy and one time incoherent. I do hope you are feeling better and don't become sleep deprived in the process. :). I bet you're enjoying that new TV while being laid up a bit.

      Delete
  6. I've seen the ads for it. It's opening in the UK on the twenty fifth. They must've focus grouped it for it is not the usual film they give a big marketing bud towards. And a comedy hitting a home run in the USA probably means that the funnies don't travel out of the fifty. But if the UK as in England, or if Ireland gets it, then it will get most of the anglophone nations and the rest of Canada. Yank humour cen go straight over the head. A bit like Monty python for you. The funny vanishes if you have to study for the references.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad to hear it's making it's way over there. It's a nice little movie. But I can see where movies from here wouldn't always "translate" elsewhere and vice versa. I was actually thinking about this particular film and its audience even here in the US. As I mentioned it captured so many of our current trends, but those trends might be more prevalent in the cities like LA, NYC, MIA, SEA, but maybe not quite as well received in say Lincoln, NE or Huntsville, AL. It has made about $15 million while playing in approx 1,000 theaters across the country and X-Men has made about $193 million while playing in 4,000 theaters in about the same amount of time. It is a low budget, independent film which doesn't appeal to the masses, most of the time.
      It's funny, because I like the movies and TV shows I've seen that come from the UK - my Netflix queue is full. BUT it could be like you said, they were shown here because they went over well in focus groups. Here I am feeling like I'm so worldly and they're probably just the ones handpicked to show us dumb Americans. ;)

      Delete
  7. This review was divine. I want to see it now! : )

    ReplyDelete