When it comes to Jon Favreau, I tend to categorise him in three ways: The Good ('Iron Man'), the Bad ('Iron Man 2'), and the Ugly ('Cowboys and Aliens').
With his new film, 'Chef', you almost can’t help but feel that not only is he saying something about all three, but he’s also making a statement about his career, the people he’s worked with and the studio system he’s worked within. And he couldn’t be happier doing it tha it’s infectious.
The movie follows Favreau’s Carl Casper, a premier chef working in a high class restaurant. He’s passionate about the job he does and the food he serves and that passion rubs off on those around him. But when a leading food blogger is set to dine in, Casper butts heads with the owner of the restaurant, Riva (Dustin Hoffman) over the food to be served. It’s business vs. art. Safe vs. risk. Things take a turn for the ugly when the food blogger (Oliver Platt) writes a rather scathing and personally-insulting review, prompting Casper to launch into a twitter battle that culminates in the chef having a meltdown at the critic in public, losing his job in the process. Taking on the advice of his staff and ex wife, Inez (Sofia Vegara), Casper buys a food truck, and it isn’t long before his passion for cooking and the family he’s neglected is once again re-ignited.
If you’re familiar with Favreau’s career, you won’t be able to help draw parallels between art and real life. From his battle with the studio system that interfered with his creative vision, to the critical bashing he took over 'Cowboys and Aliens', Favreau uses this film almost as therapy, a way to lay everything out in front of him and go back to basics. Gone are the iron men and explosions (although there are nice nods throughout) and instead are replaced with a simple and uplifting story of a guy who’s simply finding his happiness again in the thing he loves the most. The film has a lot to say, not only over Favreau’s career, but about the creative process itself, making art for art’s sake including the self doubt, anger and pain that goes with it. After he’s ejected from his own kitchen, Casper goes home and cooks. Not to serve anyone. Not to get paid. Just to cook. To create and to express. Here is a film that will put a smile on your face and leave it there long after it’s finished. It’s a comfort movie. The type you watch when you’re down and out and needing some positivity in your life. With strong performances from Vegara, John Leguizamo, Bobby Carnivale, as well as 'Iron Man' alumni Robert Downey Jr, and Scarlett Johasson, including newcomer Emjay Anthony as Casper’s son Percy, you won’t be able to stop that passion that rubs off from Casper rubbing off on you.
Whether you’re a chef, photographer, filmmaker or just an all round creative, doing something that you love to do and can’t stay away from, then 'Chef' will leave you with a full stomach and a warm heart.
This review first appeared online at This Is Film.
