Film Review: CHEF

Jon Favreau the Director of Iron Man, Iron Man2 and Elf – comes a much smaller, personal story. Here the director takes the lead roll, in a film that is very much a labour of love.

The plot surrounds a 40 something Chef, Carl Casper. Who is divorced and has a young son – he lives in a small apartment while paying for the marital home. He works at a restaurant which has become uncreative for him, we quickly learn he has been cooking the same menu for the past ten years. Due to events that unfold (not wanting to spoil) he finds himself rebuilding his career from a food truck serving Cuban sandwiches.

What could have been a run of the mill Hollywood comedy without a soul becomes thankfully the opposite. The director makes sure that the characters and the story are at the focus here. A man lost in his life hit his stride ten years previous and now unknowing where, what or even why to bother with life.

The film is heart warming without being sicking, it is by far the best drama I have seen in years from an American film maker. The cast tells you about this director and the project – because these actors of there calibre are not doing this film for a pay check, the budget just isn’t there. The work is why this cast is here and it shows on screen. A supporting cast such as John Leguizamo, Scarlet Johansson, Oliver Platt, Robert Downey Jnr and Dustin Hoffman don’t just work on anything or even just work on it because there friends with the director (helps im sure).

The film will leave you smiling and satisfied with life and the film you’ve seen. What is so brilliantly written in this film is the Father Son relationship, perfectly written, paced and acted. Enjoy this – it will make you smile and also make you want to eat after viewing.

4 out of 5 - Rhys