Le Chef
Mercifully Short Review
by Jonathan Empson
Original title: Comme un chef
Jacky (Michaël Youn) is a talented chef who can’t even hold down a job in a fast-food joint due to his habit of imposing haute cuisine where it isn’t wanted. So his wife (like apparently all French women, she’s gorgeous yet attracted to hopeless men with big noses) insists he get a job, any job, to support the bun she currently has in her own oven.
He gets a job repainting a retirement home, but can’t stop himself interfering in its kitchen. There, he gets noticed by his cheffing hero, Alexandre Lagarde (Jean Reno), who’s facing both ennui and the boot from his new boss if he can’t wow the critics with molecular gastronomy instead of his usual old-school fare. Alexandre offers Jacky an apprenticeship… unpaid. Silly but good-natured comedy ensues. Frothy as a slug mousse, but more easily digested.
7/10
Released June 14, 2012.
Jonathan Empson’s TV script Chrome was nominated for an AWGIE in 2010.
His recently completed historical drama-comedy feature Leonardo’s War is in circulation, and his black comedy-thriller Get Out of Here has been optioned.
He is represented by Rick Raftos Management.