Skip to main content

Chef (2014)

Chef (2014) is written, directed and stars Jon Favreau. It's about a head chef who is forced to quit his job and gets a food truck to try something new. The movie is more about how he has to change his life and through the process understand the importance of family over work.

Jon Favreau is probably a household name just because of how recognizable he is and how talented an actor, director, and writer he is. I first saw him in Rudy and then Swingers, but most people know him from Iron Man I would assume. The younger crowd would recognize him from Spider-Man: Homecoming. He plays the main character, Carl Casper, in this film and does an amazing job stepping out from his usual roles and completes his character arc perfectly.

I used to find Sofia Vergara annoying from Modern Family but she tones it down for this film and is amazing. She plays the ex-wife of Jon Favreau's main character Carl Casper. Scarlett Johansson is also in the film and the relationship she has with Carl  Casper is uncertain but there's certainly something there.

Dustin Hoffman is also in this film who plays the boss of Carl at the beginning and is the antagonist for the most part if you don't consider Oliver Platt who plays a food critic the main one. They both do a great job in their respective fields and neither one seems to be there for the money.

John Leguizamo does a great job playing the best friend of Carl who helps him through these hard times. He's there for him no matter what. Leaving his job at a moments notice. Showing him what a true friend is.

Robert Downey Jr. is also in the film briefly as the ex-husband of Sofia Vergara. He's not in there for too long and does what he's supposed to do. His character isn't too far from Tony Stark and I think that's on purpose.

Result A+ (Chef is one of my favorite films of all time.)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Psycho Killer (2026)

Psycho Killer (2026) is a religious-tinged detective thriller that leans far more into procedural tension than outright horror. Directed by Gavin Polone , who is better known as a producer than a filmmaker, the movie benefits heavily from its screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker , the writer behind Se7en . His fingerprints are all over this. The writing is sharp, layered with foreshadowing that only fully clicks at the end, and structured in a way that constantly feels like it is building toward something inevitable. The gorgeous  Georgina Campbell plays the detective tracking down the titular killer, and she carries the film with confidence. You'll remember her from Barbarian and recently Cold Storage.  The script gives her plenty of emotional range to explore, from controlled professionalism to visible cracks under pressure. She handles the lore-heavy exposition well and grounds what could have been overwhelming backstory. It is another strong showing for her and proof she c...

Cold Storage (2026)

Cold Storage (2026) is a sci fi horror thriller that surprised me in a good way. The writing is solid enough that it actually calmed some of my worries about Disclosure Day coming later this year since the same writer is involved. The story holds together and stays engaging, even when the visuals do not. The CG is laughably bad at times, but the acting/chemistry keeps the movie watchable. Jonny Campbell directs, with the screenplay by David Koepp , known for Jurassic Park and Spider-Man . His writing here is tighter than expected, which is why it gives me more confidence about Disclosure Day. The direction is straightforward and lets the script do most of the work, even if the effects budget clearly limits what can be shown on screen. He needs a redemption after  Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Joe Keery , known for Stranger Things and Free Guy , is the main reason I showed up. He proves he can handle a leading role after Stranger Things and carries the film with a relax...

Crime 101 (2026)

Crime 101 (2026) is a crime thriller that checks the basic boxes of what should work, but the writing never tightens enough to make it compelling. It hits familiar beats, runs longer than it should, and never quite earns its tension. It feels like a good movie outline stretched into a full runtime. Bart Layton , known for American Animals and The Imposter , directs, and his uneven filmography shows here. The structure is serviceable, but the pacing drags and the scenes lack urgency. The direction is competent without being memorable, and the film never finds a sharp identity. Chris Hemsworth , known for Thor and Extraction , plays the reclusive criminal at the center of the story. He tries to lean into a quieter, more internal performance, but he does not fully sell the damaged foster child mentality the script is aiming for. The performance feels like an attempt rather than a transformation. Mark Ruffalo , recognized for Spotlight and The Avengers , feels like he is on autopilo...