Chef 2014

Clark Collis, Entertainment Weekly: The first two thirds of Chef crackle with hunger-inducing imagery and laughter-provoking gags. But the concluding road-movie section is less third act than travelogue. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: It has lots of smart things to say about social media, criticism and father-son relationships - while also appealing to fans of food porn and mildly raunchy buddy movies. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: Like so much in "Chef," the plot resolution seems contrived and a bit silly. By then, though, we've had plenty of laughs, and generous helpings of warm feelings-the meat and potatoes of real life. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: If "Chef" were a musical, you'd walk out humming the food - and you might end up doing that anyway. Read more

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: All these actors, and the audience too, deserved a better, tighter, more daring film. The movie meal that Favreau whips up is easy to sit through but hardly memorable. Read more

Joe Leydon, Variety: Far too entertaining to be dismissed as self-indulgence. Read more

A.A. Dowd, AV Club: For Swingers fans, seeing Favreau make something small again might be worth it-even if the results are more appetizing in theory than in execution. Read more

Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic: There are enough satisfying flavor notes in "Chef" to make it a tasty repast, even if the film bears too much of a resemblance to the unadventurous menu the food critic pans. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: You know these ingredients; it's how they're served that counts. Read more

Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader: Chef is so thin and bland it doesn't even inspire contempt. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: Favreau's masterly light touch as an actor hasn't yet translated to a similarly deft offhandedness behind the camera. The movie, slick and shallow, is fairly entertaining anyway. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: Although overly familiar, the behind-the-scenes food shenanigans are often lively and sharply written. Read more

Cary Darling, Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com: Chef is lightweight, and could be seen as just a blatant attempt to cash in on the whole food-truck phenomenon, but it's so engaging that it really doesn't matter. Read more

William Goss, Film.com: ...at its best when demonstrating its creator's talents rather than having characters explicitly expound on them. Read more

John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter: The easygoing comedy keeps a familiar story going despite minor plot hiccups. Read more

Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: Favreau is flat-out terrific. Warm, dimensional and intuitive, his Carl proves an ideal combo of top dog and underdog - as well as a thoroughly credible kitchen master. Read more

Amy Nicholson, L.A. Weekly: With its gags about Twitter and food truck-triggered flash mobs, in 10 years it'll feel as dated as the '80s nouvelle cuisine in American Psycho. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: Jon Favreau's charming comedy about a chef trying to carve out a living accomplishes exactly what it needs to: It makes your stomach growl, your mouth water and your brain vow to track down the nearest medianoche. Read more

Rafer Guzman, Newsday: The movie's problems aren't small: It moves slowly, meanders everywhere and never quite arrives at a destination. Read more

Anthony Lane, New Yorker: Worst of all are the tweets that pop up onscreen and then fly away, chirruping... This digital worship, unlike the food, is flavorless and dehumanizing, and in a few years' time it will look archaic. For now, it spoils the appetite. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: If you want the cinematic version of a dim sum brunch, or cocktail hour at a tapas bar - lots of little plates, good flavors and uncomplicated fun - "Chef" has a table saved, just for you. Read more

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: Scenes of Favreau at the grill bantering with Leguizamo and Cannavale could almost sustain an entire movie. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: [A] shallow but enjoyable all-American morality play ... Read more

Michael Sragow, Orange County Register: As a director, Favreau keeps his music and his palette bold; the grass-roots American food and road views look inviting. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: Jon Favreau's bouncy paean to the culinary arts wins you over in a stridently upbeat, crowd-pleasing way ... Read more

Richard Roeper, Richard Roeper.com: A colorful, great-looking film, with an infectious soundtrack. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: Buoyed by a Latin-flavored score and Favreau's knack for improv inspiration, Chef is the perfect antidote to Hollywood junk food. Like the best meals and movies, this irresistible concoction feels good for the soul. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: No matter how you slice it, "Chef" is authentic cuisine. Read more

Jessica Herndon, Associated Press: A delectable take on an out-of-work cook who experiences career rejuvenation when traveling cross-country serving Cuban entrees on a foodtruck. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: It's a refreshing change of pace from typical summer fare, a story not framed around the skeleton of an old TV series or designed as a tie-in to Hasbro toys. Read more

Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Best of all is Favreau. Instead of mass-producing another superhero epic, he has given the overfed public a dish of right-sized comfort food. Whatever he cooks up in the future, it will be hard to top "Chef." Read more

Craig Offman, Globe and Mail: Chef is compelling, somewhat convincing and, according to many who know better than I, it's largely on trend. Read more

Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: Favreau has assembled a terrific cast for a road trip that is joyous and revelatory, all set to a great soundtrack ... Read more

Christina Izzo, Time Out: There's family-friendly fluff here, sure, but this dish has considerable bite. Read more

Liz Braun, Toronto Sun: It's such a treat to see such an endearing slice o' life in the middle of this blockbuster season. There's not a single comic book character in sight. Read more

Scott Bowles, USA Today: Don't fill up on concessions if you catch Chef. You're going to want to eat afterward, even with a belly full of popcorn. Read more

Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine/Vulture: Chef won't knock your socks off, but it believes in itself - and for Favreau, that's all that matters. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: There's nothing terribly profound about "Chef." But its message - that relationships, like cooking, take a hands-on approach - is a sweet and sustaining one. Read more