Movie review: Jon Favreau fires up a feast in ‘Chef’

"Chef" is a fantasy. It’s about a middle-aged man in a creative rut who falls as far as he possibly can, and then finds a way to dig himself out of it. Through fixing that thing that he has devoted his life to, he figures out things about himself, about family, about the world, meaning, life, etc. etc. etc. Things happen as we expect them to, in sweet, heartwarming ways. Conflicts are resolved without too much struggle, things fall into place, and all comes to right neatly with a bow on top.

Despite this predictability, despite the film’s leaning on tried and tested formulas and tropes, I absolutely loved it.

How could I not? It’s a celebration, a fiesta of a movie. It puts its heart on a plate and serves it up to you, all love and sincerity. It’s exuberant. It is about amazing food, served with amazing music. And even though it seems that the ground it treads is tried and tired, the film’s tone, humour, and charm can win one over.

It’s about Chef Carl Casper, played by Jon Favreau (who also wrote and directed; it’s clear this piece is a passion project). Casper was once a chef lauded for his creativity, but now he has sunk into comfort and routine, cooking someone else’s menu and putting up with his dick of a restaurant owner (played by Dustin Hoffman). The problem is that Casper just can’t find it in himself to try and be better. He’s still got the skills, but, as with everything else in his life, like a failed marriage and his not being a very caring and attentive father, he is stuck in his situation.

In a bit of heavy-handed metaphor, thankfully saved by a charming skeleton puppet and Al Green’s “Tired of Being Alone”, we are shown Casper realizing how stuck he is but not knowing what to do about it. A bad review and an even worse flame war with the reviewer lead to him being knocked down and out.

He decides to rebuild his life. He eschews his beliefs about a kitchen and about food trucks, goes back home, goes on a road trip, and rediscovers what it is to feel alive. I know it sounds like I’m spoiling the movie, but I’m not. This is all stuff that you will expect, this is all by the numbers in this film. And I’m not afraid to put them in the review because it’s in the trailer, and it’s not what makes this movie fun or special.

What this movie really is, is an ars poetica. It is a statement of a creator and how he has been creating. Granted that Favreau never really sold out, but you can imagine the compromises he has made working with a studio like Marvel, or the kind of trash he was dished when "Iron Man 2" came out. Here, Favreau cashes in on some of the clout he has built (look at that cast), but decides to go small, to make the movie equivalent of a food truck. He goes from working with major studios with gigantic budgets, and he makes this little (well, it isn’t that small because it does have a cross-country road trip, but it’s small in comparison) movie that speaks about passion.

One of the appealing things here, and something that is common enough, is the mid-life crisis. Here, again it’s solved a little too neatly, but it’s still inspiring to watch Favreau’s Casper rediscover what makes him happy. What this film lacks in edginess or ingenuity, it makes up for in enthusiasm and sincerity.

There are scenes when Favreau’s Casper rocks out with his son and his numeru uno bro and sous chef, played by John Leguizamo. Those, I think, can encapsulate the spirit of the film. The film’s music is great, and it comes in pitch perfect, giving it a party/fiesta feel. The dancing is un-self-conscious. It isn’t pretty, but it’s got spirit.

And my oh my, the food. This film could also be a sizzle reel for food porn. The popularity of cooking and food shows is big now, and the movie cashes in on this. Favreau knows how to make cooking exciting, and he has clearly done his research. Foodies will want to watch this movie merely for the ways that the food is presented and shot. You’ll walk away from it wanting to eat.

While "Chef" is by no means edgy or important, it is sweet and endearing and fun. And I think that’s part of the film’s spirit. It doesn’t have to be over-indulgent, or filled with amazing techniques. It just has to be simple and good. It has to be that perfectly cooked Cubano sandwich, made with heart and love. — BM, GMA News

"Chef" is now showing in Metro Manila theaters.