3.5 Astonishingly-Delicious-Courses out of 4
A love-song to food, art, and independence, Chef is a reminder why I love movies. Its characters are appealing, its story is pleasant, and its production warmly invites viewers to appreciate its virtues. Director Jon Favreau – who wrote, produced, and stars in the movie – marks his return to smaller, independent films with grace, elegance, and more than a little humble aplomb.
Favreau tells the story of a passionate chef whose unbridled creativity and imagination is constantly undermined by a restaurant-owner intent on turning the greatest possible profit. When a food review harshly criticizes Chef Carl Casper for his lack of originality in favour of comfortable, familiar menus, the talented gastronomist leaves the restaurant to run a food-truck. Using the opportunity to reconnect with his humble culinary roots, and with his tech-savvy son, Casper travels across America from Miami, to New Orleans, to California.
The film’s synopsis should be familiar to any viewer who’s seen the film’s trailer. The truth is that the film’s basic plot is remarkably simple. As such, any viewer hoping for more than what they see in the trailer should probably avoid Chef as a whole. Beneath its predictable and familiar exterior, however, lies a deeply character-driven existential analysis of life and our reasons for living.
There is little subtlety to Chef and the film succeeds because of this absence. Casper’s personality is deeply indicative of his culinary ingenuity – he’s passionate, brazen, and bold. He jumps at the opportunity to create, and he relishes any chance to share his love for food with others. What makes Favreau’s performance so compelling is the way we – and the film’s other characters – are drawn to Casper when we would normally be critical of his workaholic ways. Other films might play up Casper’s deficiencies – but not Chef. Casper’s neglect of his personal life is the product of his passion and dedication – instead of judging him, we admire him. “How many of us have a chance to live our dreams?” Favreau seems to ask. “How many of us would chase them to the bitter end?”
There is no question that Carl Casper is Favreau’s cinematic substitute. Played with a kind of neuroticism usually only reserved for Woody Allen, Chef Casper’s talent is only outmatched by his dedication to the art of food. With help from Kramer Morgenthau’s cinematography and Robert Leighton’s editing, Favreau captures every flourish and culinary flick of the wrist. To say that Chef delights its audience with a veritable feast for the eyes is a massive understatement. Food isn’t a plot device here – it’s the movie’s driving force – and Favreau and his team recognize the importance of overtly showcasing every dish.
In interviews promoting Chef, Favreau expressed great excitement at the opportunity to return to small-budget features reliant on storytelling and acting instead of big-budget special effects. Artistic integrity and creative freedom are clearly very important to Favreau, and the Chef Casper character echoes Favreau’s dedication to film as an art instead of a consumer product. During his early years, Favreu’s claims to fame were critically-successful, and cinematically-clever independent comedies and dramas like Made and Swingers. Most contemporary audiences didn’t truly recognize Favreau’s cinematic talent until the 2008 Marvel blockbuster Iron Man.
This film seems to be Favreau’s way of redeeming himself in his eyes. In a way, Chef feels like a movie that’s more important to its creator than to anyone else – that we, as an audience, get to be there for his ride to redemption is just more gravy with a delicious red wine reduction.
I mentioned that Chef reminds me why I love movies. A lot of that has to do with the warm way the film draws in its audience. This is a very simple and happy movie. Its story of personal redemption resonates with the audience, and it’s put together in such a way that we can’t help but be drawn in. It’s about family and friendship – it’s about chasing our dreams and finding happiness. It’s not a movie looking to be dark or serious; instead, Chef is satisfied with smiling at its audience while we get swept up in its warm atmosphere, pleasant mood, and cheery tone.