Chef - A Movie Review

You are never going to be happy cooking for someone else.

Chef was ordered off the menu to theaters in 2014. Not happy with his job, a head chef leaves the restaurant business to pursue something different. Still wanting to cook, Carl and his son buy a food truck. Together they reclaim their relationship as they prepare food for the community.

Films about cooking hold a savory essence in their contents. I have developed a taste for cooking movies. I have researched media surrounding the subject. Chef immediately appealed to me. Doing what you love, especially with the people you have in common with, is better than being unhappy.

As a professional chef, Carl prefers his way of running things. Carl isn’t the easiest person to get along with. An excellent chef, Carl has his flaws. Jon Favreau was outstanding in the role. To make a believable chef, he studied cooking tactics. His rant to a food critic is well-acted.

Carl and Percy’s relationship is the best part of the film. Reluctant to pursue a father-son bond, Percy’s ideas help Carl expand his career. A tenacious kid, Percy refuses to be ignored by his father. Emjay Anthony did a great job with his performance alongside Favreau.

I didn’t like how Carl ignored him or the way he yelled at Percy when he wasn’t cleaning the truck right. Writers implemented a close examination of this relationship. Always find ways to seek healthy relationships.

Chef has a great cast of actors like John Leguizamo. I am so glad that they kept him in the film longer. He was hilarious in all his scenes. The film also includes a memorable appearance by Dustin Hoffman as the restaurant manager. More credits include Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johannson, Bobby Cannavale, and Sophia Vergara.

All roles matched their characters, but Vergara wasn’t the right choice for Carl’s ex-wife. I know their relationship didn’t work out, but with the casting of Vergara, Carl and Inez don't make sense as a couple.

Food is the central character. Somebody is always eating. This movie made me hungry, salivating at all the delicious plates. I swear they did that on purpose. Chef has several montages of tasty food preparation. I wanted to eat the delectable grilled cheese sandwich Carl cooks to perfection.

I like movies with food-related stories. Food is a way for people to connect. As Chef appoints, careers at restaurants are time-consuming. Scenes in the kitchen are busy with characters racing around finishing food orders. Dialogue is quick and fast. There’s no time for a break.

Not only did he act, but Jon Favreau also directed Chef. Aiming to make the film authentic, Favreau trained with Roy Choi, a food truck chef. Sending Favreau to French culinary schooling for a week and teaching him how to fold towels correctly, every little detail is believable.

Food trucks have never had rightful recognition. I didn’t realize how much went into food truck businesses. Not just restaurants but every business deserves positive representation in movies. Nobody ever knows what hard work goes into them.

Favreau found appropriate locations. We aren’t in one place for the entire film. Since you have a restaurant on wheels, we travel with the characters to exciting locations.

Think about what makes you happy. As a chef, who are you cooking for? You or others? It’s okay to take a break. Give yourself time to improve your image, especially for social media.

Chef is the movie for any food lover. I'd watch it again. I recommend that you watch it on HBO.