Sunday, January 14, 2024

Chef (2014) 'He's Not Getting To Me!!!!'

 Chef is one of my top 10 movies, maybe even my top 5. It's a movie that touches on 

very timeless and universal themes. A middle age man, who is a chef at glamorous high
end restaurant. But critical events which are intertwined with being a 
well known chef make him absolutely miserable. I think these themes are played out
time and time again in people's career. They work for years at attaining 
glamorous high paying job only to find misery and an unfulfilled life. 
At it's core Chef masterfully address a timeless issue. 
Jon Favreau's humor is so refined and refreshing from the Jim Carrey over acting.





 He creates humor from a lot of intense humiliation, most of which would be a nightmare 
for the average person, for instance the food critique's review. It 
was scathing and would make most people want to crawl under a stone. But what's worse 
is it going viral on twitter without him knowing and his coworkers see it well before he
 does. Again, if I read this in someone diary as a first hand account it would be 
traumatizing to someone's core, but Favreau manages to create one of the best, hilarious 
movies I've ever seen from this narrative. What makes it even more hilarious and potent is
 his son reading all the criticism out loud. 
I love the b story and how it's equally as heartfelt, the story between Chef Carl
 and his son Percy. I love the character development which give a really strong enhancement
 to how Chef Carl experiences a transformative way of living his life.
One of my favorite scenes, or montages rather is when Chef Carl is not able to cook 
his new menu and then Ramsey Michel comes back for the second round, but Carl cooks his new menu 
at his home. This movie is very authentic.
    So now the whole scathing review mushroom clouds into a full blown meltdown-temper tantrum
by Carl that's seen by the entire nation.  "You're not getting to me!!!"








The monologue with Molly pointing out that Carl is miserable is crucial.
The whole vibe of this movie is humiliating events that would put someone in a bad mood for a 
month or relapse. Another golden scene which fits this is when Carl has to talk to his ex-wife 
ex-husband Marvin who has massive issues and enjoys degrading people to their face.   
       At the core of this film is autonomy when it comes to your passion or dream job. That is
universal, timeless and powerful. It also speaks to someone on a deep level. 
When Carl gains autonomy back, it conveys that the moral of the story is that status does not
give you happiness or fulfillment, it's a extremely powerful story, done right it's so
authentic and heartfelt. What adds a ton is how it coincides with Carl healing his
relationship with his kid. I love Percy's vine video at the end and how is shapes Carl. 🫶🏾

No comments:

Post a Comment