TheReviewMonk is back — critic reviews for Indian cinema, aggregated. Read our story →

TheReviewMonk
Chef backdrop

Chef

20 June 2014English1h 54m
Comedy
out of 10
Recommendedmost critics liked it
Monk Score · 9 scored reviews · 1 not rated

Warm, funny, and easygoing despite a story you can see coming a mile away.

Verdict tier Recommended, most critics liked it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: warm feel-good tone and humor
  • Criticised: formulaic and predictable storyline

Audience

User score 6.3 out of 10 from 10 ratings, Mixed

Not streaming in India

Top cast

Full cast & crew

Critic consensus

What 10 critics are saying

Critics broadly received Chef with mild-to-moderate approval, with most scores clustering around 70/100. The film was widely praised for its warm, feel-good tone, its humor, and Favreau's return to smaller, more personal filmmaking after his blockbuster work. The most consistent criticism across reviews was the formulaic, predictable storyline, with several critics also noting that supporting cast members like Johansson were underutilized and that the ending felt too convenient.

How the 9 scores spread

1 not-rated review isn't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 10 critic reviews · may contain errors

Report inaccuracy

From the papers

Critic reviews (10)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  2. The Navhind Times

    Film review ·

    The films story could well be Favreau's in one way, he directed couple of independent films made some main stream pictures and now is back to making simple yet heartwarming films. Chef will leave you satisfied like you had the most sumptuous meal in a while.

  3. TimeOut

    Film review ·

    Chef marks a return to Jon Favreau's home-cooked roots, albeit with the perks of his big-budget finesse.

  4. Deccan Chronicle

    Film review ·

    From the mouth-watering carne asada to the molten chocolate cake, Jon Favreau's 'Chef' is a delectable take on an out-of-work cook who experiences career rejuvenation when traveling cross-country serving Cuban entrees on a food truck.

  5. DNA India

    Film review ·

    Chef is palatable feel-good fare whose recipe has smatterings of moving performances and dashes of rib-tickling humour.

  6. Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    Despite the burp-so-familiar storyline, Favreau manages to serve up a delicious blend of humour, sentiment and drama. In small but significant supporting roles, Scarlett Johansson is delectable as the restaurant hostess and Dustin Hoffman pops up as her unadventurous boss. Regrettably, the upbeat wrap-up is a coput.

  7. The W14

    Film review ·

    Whilst the social-media and online bloggers these days just add to the noise and cynicism around, Jon Favreau as the director, finds them, from a distance, hopeful to tell a believable and an inspiring story. Casper's food tastes good, we are simply told. Only if along with sight and sound, third sense of smell or taste could be added to the movies. Sigh.

  8. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    Pleasing yet somewhat predictable, this film marks a sharp departure from Favreau's various blockbuster (*Iron Man*) films into something far simpler. Johansson, however, is somewhat under-used but on the whole, the story is paced nicely. With food remaining the biggest star of this show, the side dishes also include some family-bonding as well. And the result is a serving of something refreshingly original.

  9. Zee News

    Film review ·

    Overall, `Chef` is a well made film that is thoroughly enjoyable yet cloyingly formulaic in its presentation.

Credits

Cast & crew

Cast

Director

Cinematography

You may also like

English films like Chef

TMDB

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.