Summer of Netflix Day 31: Chef

Chris: First off the bat, I have to warn all of you of one thing: don’t watch this movie on an empty stomach or else the food portrayed in this movie will torture you for almost 2 hours. Never in my life have I wanted a grilled cheese sandwich more than when I watched Jon Favreau’s character make one for his son. This movie shows that as much as Favreau does a great job as a director (screw you guys, I enjoyed Cowboys & Aliens), we need to see more of Favreau IN movies and does a fantastic job carrying this movie. You knew this movie would have a neatly-wrapped happy ending and, although I typically roll my eyes at the thought of it, you find yourself rooting for Casper not only to have a successful business but to stop being such a jerk and connect with his kid. Finally, I really enjoy John Leguizamo as a supporting actor, sure his comedy can be cheesy at times but every now and then, he’ll deliver a one-liner that is golden.

Alexa: I completely agree about not watching this movie on an empty stomach! Or if you do watch it on an empty stomach, ideally you’ll watch it at about 4 p.m. and then go to dinner somewhere awesome afterward. Chef is a delightful little film with a charismatic cast and a lot of heart. I’m a dreadful cook, but I’m in awe of people who can elevate food into an art form, and their creative process fascinates me. That’s the kind of chef Jon Favreau’s Carl Casper is. Food means the world to him, and as the story progresses it plays an integral role in his relationship with his son. And Casper’s journey is relatable beyond the food angle. We all have something we’re passionate about, perhaps from time to time we’ve felt like we’ve lost our creative spark, and hopefully, like Casper, we’ve found it again with a little help from the people we care about most. Sure, the movie isn’t perfect – some parts are a bit cheesy, the ending feels rushed and its run time could have been trimmed a bit, but overall Chef is a heartwarming tale that’s a joy to watch.

Joel: In 2008, John Favreau released Iron Man, the movie that would go on to launch possibly the biggest cinematic universe of all time. Then, he directed Iron Man 2, a continuation of the build focusing toward the Avengers. After that he directed Cowboys and Aliens, a movie I enjoyed personally but was generally considered to be a creatively bankrupt paint by numbers summer movie. And after that he writes, directs, and stars in a small film about a chef who’s successful but needs to refind his roots because he’s lost touch with the artistic side of what he does. That is not a coincidence. The whole movie is Faverau working through some things but in doing that he managed to put together a great little film. The whole storyline is sweet as you watch Favreau’s character Carl Casper take some advice from his Iron Man co-stars to focus on what makes him happy. Part of what makes it so great is how much fun it is to watch people create something that they genuinely feel passionate about. That’s true of both Casper and Faverau. Oh, and I agree, the food in the movie looks amazing. Plan ahead and have fantastic dinner plans lined up for the moment the movie ends.

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