CHEF
Starring Jon Favreau, John Leguizamo
Directed by Jon Favreau
Having forsaken his indie roots in order to churn out a string of blockbusters that started out well (Iron Man) and ended with a whimper (Cowboys & Aliens), Jon Favreau appears eager to once again make a movie that’s about something. Overeager, in fact. In looking to make a point, Favreau ends up wielding subtext as if it were a blunt force weapon.
In addition to writing and directing, Favreau stars as Carl Casper, a chef who’s forsaken his scrappy, innovative techniques for the security of serving up bland cuisine at an upscale Los Angeles restaurant.
When he’s taken to task for losing his edge – and packing on a few pounds – by a spiteful critic (Oliver Platt), Carl turns in his apron and moves back to Miami. There, he rediscovers the joy of creative expression by taking to the streets in a food truck with his best buddy (John Leguizamo) and estranged son (Emjay Anthony) riding shotgun.
Regrettably, Favreau’s answer to his own critics isn’t a particularly persuasive one.
It’s readily evident that his affinity for scenes of male bonding (or butting of heads) hasn’t diminished since penning Swingers almost two decades ago. Given this, it’s a pleasant surprise that the camera spends its time leering at food rather than Scarlett Johansson or Sofía Vergara, both in supporting roles with all the substance of culinary foam.
Despite sending the cast on a road trip, Chef apparently has no thematic territory it’s interested in exploring with any rigour. Instead, it’s content to mimic Carl’s food truck, doling out guilty pleasures that go down easy but ultimately don’t sit well.
