chef

If one of your friends or family members says "Let's see the movie CHEF," say "Yes" and go. It's about a chef who eventually runs a taco truck (but doesn't sell tacos.)

That description is not enough to get most people into the theater. How about this? Some of the stars making appearances are: Robert Downey, Jr; Scarlett Johansson; Dustin Hoffman; Sophia Vergara.

But the movie owes its life to Jon Favreau who produced, wrote, and directed himself in the lead role.  He is a chef who gets into a Twitter war with a food critic after the restaurant owner (Hoffman) has him present his usual fare for review. The critic, played by Oliver Platt, is unimpressed and says so in a blogged review that goes viral. (This is much nicer than the viral review of Guy Fieri's new NYC restaurant.)

The chef's son, the delightful EmJay Anthony, helps him with a Twitter account and the story takes off from there.

In the old style of movies, this is a road movie. The chef, his son, and an employee from his former restaurant (John Leguizamo) drive the former taco truck, now tricked out as a Cubano truck, from Florida to California, changing the menu as they go.

A treat and a delight.

Rating: R for language

Length: 114 minutes


My rating: A (on a scale of A to F)

Worthiness: Full Price (on a scale of full price, discount only, second run, rent it, free, don't waste your time.)