Chef Review

Rated R (Language, including Some Suggestive References)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 55 Minutes

Cast-

Jon Favreau-Carl Casper

Emjay Anthony-Percy Casper

John Leguizamo-Martin

Sofía Vergara-Inez

Bobby Cannavale-Tony

Scarlett Johansson-Molly

Oliver Platt-Ramsey Michel

Dustin Hoffman-Riva

Robert Downey Jr.-Marvin

Amy Sedaris-Jen

Jose C. Hernandez 'Perico'-Abuelito Casper

Gloria Sandoval-Flora

Will Schutze-Mr. Bonetangles

Roy Choi-As Himself

Directed by Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau writes, stars, and directs in the indie comedy "Chef," one of the best films of 2014.

Note: Screened on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13.

Opinions: everyone has them, and thanks to the advent of social media websites like Facebook and Twitter, everyone is voicing them! Most of it is just white noise but one should never underestimate the power of opinions—especially in the digital world that we now live in—as they can make or break careers at the drop of a hat. Hell, just ask Paula Deen about the latter. As a nonprofessional film critic, my job is to evaluate a film and give an opinion on it. Praising a film is easy enough but negative reviews are much trickier to handle as there's a fine line you have to walk. In other words, a negative review cannot devolve into a personal attack because the person whose work you are criticizing is a human being as well. I don't hold Michael Bay's films in the highest regard but if he directs something that is actually good—like last year's "Pain and Gain"—than I will give it the proper praise.

This relationship between creator and critic is just one of the many themes that Jon Favreau explores in "Chef," a film that he also wrote and stars in. Following a series of bit roles, Favreau made his breakthrough as an actor/screenwriter in 1996's "Swingers" alongside Vince Vaughn. He reunited with Vaughn in his 2001 directorial debut "Made" and scored his first box office hit two years later with the Christmas comedy "Elf" starring Will Ferrell. 2005's "Zathura" flopped despite solid reviews but it didn't matter because a year later, Favreau was hired to direct the highly anticipated comic book film "Iron Man," based on the Marvel character of the same name. We all know that "Iron Man" was a critical and commercial success as it was instrumental in jumpstarting the so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe but the world of big-budget filmmaking proved to be a detriment to Favreau's sense of creativity. After 2011's "Cowboys & Aliens" received mixed reviews (44% on Rotten Tomatoes) and proved to be a financial disappointment, Favreau decided to go back to his roots as an indie filmmaker. The result is "Chef," one of the best films of 2014. Charming, humorous, and full of heart, "Chef" marks a welcome return to the Favreau that exploded onto the filmmaking scene thirteen years ago.

Anointed a decade earlier as Food and Wine magazine's 'Best New Chef,' Miami-born Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) fashions himself as a culinary artist as he whips up tasty dishes with the help of his loyal sous chef Tony (Bobby Cannavale) and line cook Martin (John Leguizamo) at an upscale restaurant in Los Angeles but the years have unfortunately not been kind. The routine of cooking the same food day in and day out has slowly been sapping Carl's passion, with his workaholic lifestyle costing him his wife Inez (Sofía Vergara) and ten-year-old son Percy (Emjay Anthony). Following a scathing review from one of his early supporters—respected online food critic Ramsey Michel (Oliver Platt), Carl impulsively sends him an incendiary message on Twitter, mistakenly believing it to be private. Instead, it goes public and viral. Carl settles on a do-over and issues Michel an invite but the special menu he prepared is squelched by his stodgy boss Riva (Dustin Hoffman), who wants him to stick to the restaurant's bland regular menu. An infuriated Carl decides to quit and publicly explodes at Michel, feeling his negative review was a personal attack. Out of work, Carl reluctantly takes his ex-wife's advice and meets with her other ex-husband Marvin (Robert Downey Jr.), who gifts him…a run-down food truck. With nothing to lose, Carl dives headfirst into the food truck business, repairing and sprucing up the vehicle with the help of Martin and his estranged son Percy. Thanks to his son's social media knowhow, Carl's 'El Jefe' food truck soon becomes a national sensation, sending the former chef on a career renaissance.

We're all looking at Sofía Vergara, right? Right?!

'The feel-good movie of the summer'—it's a critic's phrase that has since become tired and overused as Hollywood studios continuously tout their latest films to the masses but in the case of Jon Favreau's "Chef," it's accurate. In fact, I guarantee audience members will be leaving the theater with a big smile on their face as well as a growling stomach thanks to all the mouth-watering food that's being cooked on-screen. While I'm no Roger Ebert, I've been doing this long enough to know whether a director is actually invested in the film that he or she is making, and Favreau is definitely invested because the story he's telling in "Chef" is pretty much a direct corollary to his own career, just with food instead of movies. Favreau emerged during the late 1990s by writing and starring in the well-received indie comedies "Swingers" and "Made" but his filmmaking career exploded when he was handed the reins to Marvel Studios' "Iron Man," which—let's be honest with ourselves—is the only reason a Marvel Cinematic Universe even exists at all. However, the world of big-budget filmmaking comes with a fair share of creative restraints and it's clear that Favreau feels he's lost his way following the critical drubbing of 2011's "Cowboys & Aliens." "Chef" is the response to his critics but I feel it's going to be misconstrued by some people. After quitting his job, Carl publicly confronts Ramsey Michel about his negative review and basically explodes, telling him that the bad review hurt and that he doesn't understand how hard the kitchen staff works to make people happy. Although it feels like Favreau is railing against critics, calling them stupid and useless, he's actually very much on their side. A good critic wants the person he or she is criticizing to improve and can offer a unique perspective on someone's work that they themselves could never reach. Michel knows that Carl is an amazing chef but technical skill is not enough, you need passion. A negative review, even one as harsh as Michel's, can serve as a much-needed wake-up call to those who are unknowingly stuck in a rut and are unable to climb their way out.

Another interesting theme that Favreau explores in "Chef" is the role of social media. With the help of his son, Carl makes an account on Twitter to find out what people are saying about him online. When he comes upon Michel's tweet of his negative review, he impulsively starts a 'flame war' with the food critic. Carl's lack of understanding of how social media works contributes to his job loss but it also provides the path to his eventual career renaissance. The second half of the film finds Carl, his former line cook Martin, and his ten-year-old son Percy traveling across the lower United States in their food truck—newly christened as 'El Jefe'—and the success of Carl's new business is entirely owed to social media. As they stop in each city, Percy sends out a tweet, which brings in a line of hungry customers that stretches for blocks. Favreau's recognition of the power of social media gives the film much more relevance to the present day and especially to those who are looking to start their own business. Websites like Facebook and Twitter can destroy careers but in the right hands, they can also save it.

As Carl is rediscovering his passion for cooking, he's also reconnecting with his estranged son and while the dramatic outcomes are largely predictable, Jon Favreau and relative newcomer Emjay Anthony overcome that predictability by bringing an earnest and heartfelt sincerity to their roles. There's a scene where Anthony's character Percy sends his father a 'vine' (a short looping video clip made by the mobile app of the same name) of their road trip together and I have to say, the moment where Carl finally watches the clip made my eyes well up with tears. It's not an especially grand gesture but like author Emilie Barnes once said, it's these 'little details in life that make all the difference.' Favreau has gathered an impressive supporting cast that includes John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, Sofía Vergara, Oliver Platt, Dustin Hoffman, Scarlett Johansson, and Robert Downey Jr. Leguizamo is clearly having a lot of fun as Martin, a line cook who decides to follow in Carl's footsteps, quitting his cushy job in order to help his friend's fledgling food truck business. The scenes where Leguizamo's character is on the road with Carl and Percy provide some of the funniest moments in the film. In fact, I wish the running time was longer so that we get more of this terrific trio. The rest of the cast are all excellent in their roles, no matter how small, with Platt enjoyably riffing on his food critic brother Adam and Downey Jr. making the most of his single-scene cameo with his trademark sarcastic wit.

Given a limited release on May 9, 2014, "Chef" has received very positive reviews with 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed the film's 'charming cast and sharp, funny script,' noting that it added 'enough spice to make this feel-good comedy a flavorful—if familiar—treat.' Audience reception at the advance screening was highly enthusiastic. Although a nationwide release date isn't yet available, Open Road Films is set on expanding "Chef" over the next couple of weeks. I do hope people go see this little gem as it's such a great film. Funny and poignant, "Chef" is a guaranteed lock on my 'Best Films of 2014' list, one that'll leave famished audiences rushing toward the nearest restaurant once the end credits roll.

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"I get to touch people's lives with what I do and I love it, and I want to share this with you."