For my first post, I will keep it simple.  Run, don't walk, RUN to see the movie Chef starring, written and directed by Jon Favreau.  At first, this movie seemed to be a somewhat sentimental and predictable film but I loved this movie.

The simple plot of the movie is Favreau plays a chef who is consumed by his career and his passion for food. He is one of these chefs that likes to cook food that normal people would not consume (like sweetbread....look it up and you will understand).  I come from a small town in GA that specializes in Swamp Surprise and Road Kill Delite, (and yes that is how Delite is spelled in these parts) but even I would not eat Sweetbread.  This experimental side and passion seems to take precedence over everything in his life including the relationship with his son and apparently led to his divorce from his ex wife (played by a wonderful Sofia Vergara).  Also, it seems to collide with the simple tastes of the owner of the restaurant he works at.  Now, at first you must suspend the belief that cutting up a pig and frying it would take precedence over SOFIA VERGARA but it works in the end.  We later find that the chef's passion overwhelms him, causes him to lose his job and, ultimately, makes him face his failures in life.  This makes him take another turn in his life by operating a food truck  and involving his ex wife and son and everything becomes right in the world.  This sounds elementary and simplistic but it most definitely is not.  The script, written by Favreau, seems to have the complexities and different flavors of the foods being cooked in the film.  It is warm, comfortable and satisfying. 

All of the actors in the film are enjoyable but I do have to point out the young actor that plays the son in the film.  His name is Emjay Anthony and I think he will have a very successful career in the future.  He has a presence unlike most children in movies,  I enjoyed him and never felt the overwhelming desire to slap the cuteness out of him.

Also, Favreau is not your typical leading man.  He knows it.  He is not slim or considered "hot" and he constantly refers to his weight in the movie.  At the beginning, I wanted to slap a grilled cheese sandwich out of his hand and tell him to have a salad.  Also, I almost laughed when he came on to Scarlett Johansson's character in the beginning of the film and SUCCEEDED!!  Really, Sofia Vegara and Scarlett Johansson!!! Get romanced by Jon Favreau?!?!?  You could tell who was in charge of this movie. But, in the end, I understood.  He is a star.   You don't want to be like him...you just want to like him.  You want to get in that food truck and help him cook those meals and make him a success again. Also, the food looks SO GOOD in this movie!!  You will want to run to the nearest Mexican restaurant after this movie and have some food and a margarita (this is optional....to some...certainly not me...but I digress) and then run home and hug your kids.  OK, if the margarita was not optional to you,please do not drive because it is hard to hug kids while you are in traction. 

I loved this movie and I have to say that there are very few movies I want to see a second time.  This is one I will see over and over again.  It will be THE sleeper summer hit.