Chef (2014)

A chef (Jon Favreau, who also directed and wrote the script) at a popular upscale restaurant is blindsided by a disastrous review by a food blogger (Oliver Platt). After the restaurant's owner (Dustin Hoffman) insists he stick to the tried and true menu rather than exercise some creativity in the kitchen, he quits. After huge blockbuster movies like the IRON MAN franchise and COWBOYS AND ALIENS, director Favreau goes the small indie and film festival route with this charming piffle of a film. If you're a film fan and a foodie, this movie is for you. I'm quite partial to "foodie" movies myself (think BIG NIGHT or BABETTE'S FEAST) and with culinary master Roy Choi as technical adviser, the film has the ring of authenticity. It balances its food porn aspects with the father/son bonding (an expert performance by 10 year old Emjay Anthony as the kid) narrative laced with some romcom vibes (Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson). Don't go to it on an empty stomach! With Robert Downey Jr., John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale and Amy Sedaris.