CHEF - Wednesday 14th May 2014.

Given my background it was inevitable that I would see 'CHEF', and so ventured off to the Cremorne Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace last night to see this culinary offering. Serving up the menu in this instance we have Writer, Producer, Director and Star of the film Jon Favreau, who has concocted a simple story of former gastronomic wunderkind Chef Carl Casper who has lost his culinary mojo thanks to Restaurant owner Riva (Dustin Hoffman) who shackles him to a menu that is years old and long past its use by date, but still has the customers rolling in . . . but not the critics!

It is one critic in particular, Ramsey Michel (Oliver Platt), who descends on the restaurant, with prior warning, and thanks to Riva's overarching decision is served up the same age old menu that now is tired, lacking imagination, creativity and love, despite what Chef Carl had in mind for that evenings service. And so a few days later the review is revealed to the world via an on-line Blog and a very disappointing two stars only are awarded and our Chef is duly crucified. In the background our Chef is trying to rekindle the relationship with his ten year old son Percy (Emjay Anthony) who introduces his Dad to the world of 'Twitter', and so a war of words breaks out in cyberspace between Chef and Critic which very quickly goes viral. As a result Chef Carl is fired, and can't land a job as a dish pig let alone a Chef!

To the rescue comes ex-wife Inez (Sofia Vergara) with who Chef Carl still has a strong, albeit separated relationship with, and invites him on a conference trip to Miami accompanied by their son. There is a hidden motive here, and that is a meeting with second ex-husband Marvin (Robert Downey Jr.) who just happens to own a beat up 1988 Chevvy Food Truck in need of a new owner and a lot of TLC. And so dad and son set to work to refurbish, upgrade and refit the food truck, quickly joined by good mate and Sous Chef Martin (John Leguizamo) to support the seemingly down trodden no hope cause and because he loves his former boss Chef Carl. Their style of cuisine is honest to goodness, freshly made, value for money quality hand held southern style food with those Spanish, Cajun, Mexican and Cuban influences. What follows is a road trip with the three lads all prepping and serving as they go from Miami, to Atlanta, to New Orleans and various stop offs en route with the money pouring in; customers aplenty thanks to viral marketing courtesy of a ten year old; music, local colour and lights; and lots of laughs and food homage along the way.

This is a feel good movie, with a happy ending where Chef Carl Casper comes good, reconciles with the Critic, the family reunite and everyone lives happily ever after. There is plenty of food porn particularly in the first half where Chef Carl is experimenting with new recipes and showing us his deft knife skills and culinary ability; there is drama from Riva flexing his restaurant owner/operator muscles; there is humour particularly when Chef Carl verbally unloads on to Critic Ramsey Michel publicly in the crowded restaurant, and his later meeting with a hamming it up for all it's worth second-ex Marvin; and there is emotion that comes from son Percy and dad Carl, from Sous Chef Martin, and from ex-wife Inez.

This has the recipe for an enjoyable viewing, and the ingredients that command a second helping! From blockbuster mega budget action fare to a simple story of food, family and freedom Jon Favreau has cooked up a storm with this one - an a la carte offering not to be missed!                                                                                                                                              

  

-Steve, at Odeon Online-