By Warren Gordon
Staff Writer
Food trucks have come to dominate the culinary medium, and with such success of the new service, it is natural to assume that these trucks would floor it to Hollywood.
Director, writer and lead actor Jon Favreau does an admirable job of creating a touching story of a talented chef who dreams of owning a food truck in his latest film, “Chef.” Favreau’s emphasis on cultural settings throughout the film paired with a warm and humorous story quite simply makes “Chef” a resounding success.
The story follows Carl Casper (Favreau), a chef who begins to question his purpose after getting divorced from his wife and ridiculed at work by food critics. Casper becomes fed up and quits his job, purchasing his own food truck. Casper then travels in the truck in a cross-country trip from Miami to Los Angeles with his son Percy (Emjay Anthony).
Throughout the film, Favreau uses ethnic food and a diverse score to give the film a unique sense of cultural identity. For instance, Percy and Casper are accompanied by Cuban beats when cooking Spanish cuisine, and the film later focuses on Southern foods with bluegrass music when the pair is in Texas. These small details are ever-present in the film and change with each location the duo travels through. As a result, each cultural emphasis lends a sense of personality to the film’s many geographical locations.
Favreau successfully creates a heart-warming plot by focusing on the tried-and-true story of a son who wants to spend time with his father. As the film progresses, the audience begins to care for the duo’s relationship, not only because of the relatable family dynamic, but also due to Casper and Percy’s intimate chemistry. The film reaches its strongest point toward the end when it comes time for Percy to leave his dad and head home. Such conflict in the two characters’ relationship evokes the greatest sense of emotion, making the film not just entertaining but emotionally touching.
Yet, the film is not solely sentimental, as tastes of humor create a pleasant balance. In one of the film’s early scenes, Casper is faced with a wave of criticism from an online food critic. However, due to Casper’s lack of technological savvy, the scene becomes a humorous exchange between two men who cannot properly communicate through the internet. These moments successfully help to lighten the mood throughout the film.
Favreau’s “Chef” proves a perfect blend of a heartfelt plot and a diverse cultural atmosphere, making “Chef” a standout film that is both emotionally and comically successful.
“Chef” is rated R and is now playing in theaters nationwide.
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