Chef

Chef (Jon Favreau, 2014)

A chef who loses his restaurant job starts up a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative promise, while piecing back together his estranged family.

After a series of big budget blockbusters (Elf, Zathura, Iron Man, Cowboys Vs. Aliens) actor/director Jon Favreau did an attempt at the road movie/independent feature film all done with extensive budget and cast with Chef.

The story line is pretty obvious and there the old saying of nothing new under the sun could easily be used. It is more in the execution and cinematography that it makes a movie that gets you hungry with superb shots of food making. As a foodie myself I was salivating for the food and I must admit having an ever lasting crush on Scarlett Johansson who’s now a regular Favreau player. Along with John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara, Robert Downey Jr., Oliver Platt, Dustin Hoffman, and Emjay Anthony Favreau makes an honest film about passion, family, redemption, and staying true to yourself as a person.

Just as Favreau said in interviews, he was very proud of his casting and it is one of the reasons that there are no real low points in Chef. Every scene as a more than capable actor in it. The young Emjay Anthony sure steals the show if you ask me, well if you are reading this you are in a way asking me my opinion, he is genuine, in control, and fits well with the rest of the veteran cast. Almost as a parallel to his father, portrayed by Favreau, he is the reason why his father won’t be a failure and as soon as they embark on their journey we know that something is going on. Again, nothing new under the sun but it is an honest attempt at a modest goal that he achieves with great means. Is it gonna be on my year end list? Probably not in the top ten but it was not a bad time to be with these characters and visit those places; Miami, Louisiana, California, etc.

Sure it is filmed with good sentiment and without a doubt it is a feel good movie. But it is a nicely executed feel good movie just like his grilled cheese. It is a high end grilled cheese, looking good and I would eat it but at the end it is still a grilled cheese but never pretends to be anything else either.