A Movie You Can Sink Your Teeth Into... "Chef"

Chef (2014)

Rated R

Starring Jon Favreau, Oliver Platt, John Leguizamo, Dustin Hoffman, Sofia Vergara, Emjay Anthony

Written and Directed by Jon Favreau

The Story:

Chef Casper (Favreau) is preparing a master feast for the premiere restaurant critic in town (Platt) . However, the owner (Hoffman) wants to play it safe and go with the old standby, after all, that's what made them famous. The critic tanks the place, Casper loses his mind, and his son (Anthony) just wants to hang out with his dad. However, when Casper gets an old food truck, his best friend (Leguizamo) and son and go on a cross-country trek during the summer, Casper rediscovers the magic that had been dormant for so long and his food is going viral, but in a good way. :)

See also the autobiography of Jon Favreau replacing food with movies. ;)

Favreau started as an indie crowd pleaser before getting called up to the big leagues to helm big studio hits (Elf, Iron Man).

Apparently along the way, he lost a bit of himself and what he wanted to do was see if he could reclaim his magic.

In Chef, he does just that.

He brings his indie sensibilities back to the forefront, but this time he's able to bring some of his A-list pals that he's made along the way with him.

They are brief, but memorable characters, but at the end of the day, this is a story about a man reconneecting with the passions in his life:

1) Food
2) Son
3) Wife

Now is the part where I have to dock Favreau just like everyone else or then I appear to be a hypocrite.

The story of a son and father reconnecting?
That's PG-13 fare my friend.

Dial the language back a bit, broaden the audience, let me share a pretty fun road trip with the family, and you've got an instant addition to the library.

Again, that's me and my soapbox.

To me, a few of the tirades are fine (and funny).  However, that's the point of language.

Restrain it, and when you do unleash profanity, it underscores the emotional impact of the scene.

Use it all the time, it's just another adjective or adverb that keeps the audience limited.

My two cents.

Either way, still a good movie and worthwhile viewing.


Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could watch it again, and like I said, had the language been toned down, this would have been a no-brainer for best of the year honors.

Truth In Advertising... "Machete Kills"

Machete Kills (2013)
Rated R for violence, language, nudity, violence

Starring Danny Trejo, Mel Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, Amber Heard, Sofia Vergara,  Jessica Alba, Carlos Estevez, Lady Gaga

Directed by Robert Rodriguez

The Story:
Machete (Trejo) and his partner Sartana (Alba) attempt to stop an arms sale, but in the process, Sartana is killed.  The President (Estevez) saves Machete and sends him after a bad man (Gibson) with designs on world domination.  Along the way, various assassins will attempt to stop Machete.

They will fail.

The sequel nobody demanded.


From a movie that never should have existed.

The sequel to a movie that was a throwaway fake trailer in another movie!

So continues the saga of Machete, the awesome fake trailer from Planet Terror that was so great, it actually became a pretty decent movie.

That is the magic of Trejo!  The man makes low budget films tolerable, and decent projects better than they should be.  Unconventional Hollywood star...check!

Robert Rodriguez is at it again with a crazy script and action pieces that inspire comparisons to Looney Tunes as much as big budget action films.

I have much love and respect for Rodriguez since Desperado.  I watched the movie with his commentary and learned how he treats his mini budget films like big action spectacles.  The enthusiasm and love he puts into the films is always evident.

That includes the killer all-star ensemble cast of Rodriguez favorites and other big names popping in for extended cameos, as most actors don't last long in a Machete movie.

:)

Keep your tongue firmly in cheek, and buckle up for about 90 minutes of pure adrenaline.

If you liked the first one, you'll enjoy the sequel.

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own the first, but have not revisited it in sometime.  We'll see what happens with the 2nd installment.