Language: English
Runtime: 114 min
Audio: 2.1 Stereo
Subtitles: German
Frame Rate: 25 fps
Video Bitrate: 5228 Kb/sec
Audio Bitrate: 256 kbps |
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Year: 2014
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson |
Health
Review: If given the opportunity to pose just ONE question to Jon Favreau, Chefs writer, director and leading man, it would be, Whos been lying to ya, dude? I admit, I have never seen an Iron Man movie because it just isnt my cup of tea. I know they have done well in the box office, which obviously has left Mr. Favreau with such an overflow of cash that he can afford to pay people to lie to him.Apparently, he was able to pay an entire crew to blow enough smoke up his sorry rump roast to actually convince him he has the Midas touch. Im even beginning to wonder if he hasnt also paid off legitimate movie critics because when I read some positive reviews, I honestly find it inconceivable that we watched the same flick.This movie is definitely a youve gotta see it to believe it, Razzie instant classic. As a matter of fact, since wasting twenty bucks and two hours of our lives well never get back, my boyfriend and I have not been able to stop picking at it.Lets start with the writing, shall we? From the time I was six years old until about twelve, I loved to drag my suitcase full of Barbie dolls out of my closet and make them come to life as my friends and spun far-fetched tales. This is relevant in this review only because the plot of Chef is absolutely reminiscent of what a second grader might spontaneously concoct.Now, lets look at Favreau as a director. There are several big name actors in this movie, such as Dustin Hoffman and Robert Downey Jr. I speculate they appear in this flop for less than their usual big bucks solely to help out a friend. Perhaps, after he asked them to read the entire six page script, they decided theyd better help save their friend from probable career-ending public humiliation. Alas, they could not.It is further speculation on my part that Favreau thought an an easy way to beef up his scant script was to allow some of the seasoned actors to improvise. Unfortunately, there was not enough meat to the plot nor ambiance on the set to pull that off. Awkward moments that should have ended up on the cutting room floor became…a movie. Ouch!Finally, not-so-renaissance man Favreau as the lead man, the Chef, el Jefe… The late, great actor, John Candy had a quality so endearing that no matter how rotten the movie, the audience couldnt help but love the characters he portrayed. In this, Favreau is the antithesis Of a Candy role. I was also distracted by Favreaus resemblance to comedian Kevin James, so much so that I kept finding myself wishing it indeed were Mr. James. He, at least, is consistently likable and has mastered comedic timing. Yes,you heard me right, I was actually longing for Paul Bart, Mall Cop while watching this piece of waste.When not watching bad movies, I am a Spanish teacher. The cringe factor reached its peak for me in Chef when it became evident that it would serve to perpetuate uneducated stereotyping of Spanish speakers. Speaking Spanish does not culturally unite people from the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, nor Europe. Cuban food is absolutely nothing like Mexican food is nothing like Spanish food is nothing like Argentinian food, etc. The same goes for the music, dress, traditions and accents. Judging from this movie, Jon Favreau is either blissfully ignorant, or perhaps simply does not care.Oh, it would be delicious poetic justice if the result of this atrocity spoils Jon Favreaus career, somewhat parallel to the fate of the half-baked Chef Caspar. This time, however, instead of driving a food truck, we stumble upon the actor on the streets of Floridas Key West, where he appears nightly as a creatively fulfilled street mime.
