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Submitted by
Gayatri Gauri
on
Thu, 06/19/2014 - 14:50
Ratings: * * (out of 5)
Bottom line: All dessert, no spice.
Those who hate critics (and there will be many); may find one hugely gratifying moment when a most talented chef, Carl Casper (Jon Favreau, also Ironman director) hollers in anguish to a rather hateful, smug looking food critic, “you sit, you eat, you vomit out words.” A heated explanation of a particular molten lava chocolate cake follows; reminiscent of a particularly delightful scene on merlot in Sideways. Only, Chef holds no candle or chopping knife to the artful comedy.
A long sequence without dialogue, set at a restaurant in L.A., has just preceded this outburst. We see the famous critic, Ramsay Michel (Oliver Platt) quietly sitting at his table, serving after serving, his body language and expressions playing an orchestra of emotions ranging from bewilderment to dismay to disgust to arrogance and mockery as he gives his final verdict. Full marks to Oliver Platt for mastering this pompous act. This is intercut with mouthwatering visuals of the most artistic gourmet meal being prepared by the same chef who is being critiqued and sentenced to hell and doom. Someone even suggests an opportunity for him in the reality show, ‘Hell’s Kitchen’. The bitter unfairness of it all and the resultant humiliation on Twitter and YouTube is witnessed by none other than the loser chef’s five year old son, Percy (Emjay Anthony).
Percy’s mom is Carl’s Spanish ex wife, Inez (Sofia Vergara). Carl hasn’t been able to give much time to Percy who longs to go with his dad to New Orleans. Inez turns out to be the most supportive of wives and ex wives put together and convinces Carl to come with Percy and her to her hometown, Miami.
Here onwards, the film loses all steam as things fall too easily in place for Carl. A road trip on Carl’s food truck called El Jefe dishing out juicy Cuban sandwiches, takes us through Texas and New Orleans. Father-son’s bonding scenes have occasional sparks, especially when Carl gifts a shining chef knife to his son, in a manner a King gifts his throne.
Through all this drama, just where does the luscious Scarlett Johansson fit in; you may as well wonder. She is the supportive hostess in Carl’s previous job; always correct and dressed in a formal jacket attire. She is much too quickly forgotten as the plot moves on to Miami. So is Dustin Hoffman, Carl’s boss who plays safe. Not that he is missed at all. His character hardly adds any mustard or oregano. Neither does Sofia’s part despite her alluring and charming, persuasive ways with Carl. The only other actor who actually entertains big time and is worth a watch in a particularly delicious cameo is Robert Downey Jr. As Sofia’s ex-husband who is both larger hearted and wicked at the same time, he leaves you wanting for more than the bit slice appearance.
Jon Favreau in his one-man show as the hero, writer, director, co-producer, is eveywhere, filling every frame, dominating every moment. This does not help the film much as we see his character just going along with things happening to him and for him. It would have been much more fun had he been the one taking some action besides contributing to an over extended Twitter drama which almost takes over the story.
The ingredients were all there. A talented chef fired from his job, an ex wife, a son and a road trip. But with no spice that only a conflict can offer, we end up getting a bland fare.
The only object that does not disappoint in this otherwise lackluster and predictable menu, is the orgy of food visuals pepped up by an upbeat Latino mix soundtrack. A film centered on food, has to grant that much. Especially if the sight of a full-blown pig being sliced is your cup or plate of ham.
But sorry, no conflict, no burp.
(The writer tries to make peace with her own filmmaking nightmares, of being a scriptwriter, actor and assisting film icons by moonlighting as a film journalist.http://gayatrigauri.blogspot.in)
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