Since this isn’t one that everyone runs to see on opening night, perhaps we should box spoilers in case anyone wants to come into this Thread just to get an idea of whether or not they want to see it.
I generally try not to pile on too many superlatives until I’ve let my reception of a film settle a bit, but I think this might be Jon Favreau’s best film (looking at his credits now, I’m just realizing he didn’t direct Swingers- but that wouldn’t affect my rankings). It’s a great story with great characters, wonderful foodie porn, and great music. It’s pretty wholesome- I make no effort to seek out wholesome films, but I don’t mind them at all (anything that’s done well is something I can get behind).
The casting is a wonderful lesson in the value of making friends in Hollywood. He gets Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, and Dustin Hoffman in bit parts- who the hell manages to get actors like these in bit parts??? John Leguizamo is great as a genuinely good guy- not a good but tragically flawed guy, not a creepy villain, not an over-the-top caricature- just a good guy. Sofía Vergara and Jon Favreau are great together- and I love seeing portrayals of divorced couples who are nice to each other. There’s great Cuban music from Perico Hernandez, who plays Sofía Vergara’s father. The kid is even good!
All the social media stuff will soon seem dated, but it was all plot significant so it’s not distracting.
I agree with everything you say. I saw it twice in one week because I saw it alone when my husband was out of town, then when he came home I took him because I knew he would love it. Of course, he did. I would never be married to the kind of person who wouldn’t like a movie as wonderful as this one.
It completely held up and is going to be one of those films I can see over and over with no problem. If I were flipping channels and saw it playing I could stop and come in at any point. As much a comfort movie as the lucious grilled cheese sandwich made in the movie is a comfort food.
I’m far from being a foodie (food is something to keep from being hungry, so ramen is as good as a gourmet meal), so I liked how they treated “simple” food (grilled cheese, hash browns, noodles) with as much respect as the gourmet food.
This is my first exposure to Sofia Vergara and she’s adorable! I liked her character a lot. Everyone was good though. This was a labor of love on everyon’s behalf.
I don’t know why rated R though. Kids can see death and destruction, no problem. Show a dad cooking/bonding with his son (and a hearing a few bad words) and oh god, THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!
Holy crap! You’re right- it is Rated R. What the hell?
Zero sex, zero violence, hardly any foul language- what was the reasoning behind this?
Could it be the kid taking one sip of beer? (not really a spoiler, in no way a major plot point)
The corn starch on the balls? (which, truthfully, I did not understand at all- if anyone could shed some light it would be appreciated)
I couldn’t even see any reason to put a PG-13 on this (unless we’re now keeping all smoking out of PG movies- are we???).
P.S. Want to give an extra word of praise to Bobby Cannavale, who I don’t think I had ever seen before last year’s Blue Jasmine. He was awesome in that film and I really liked him in this one too. He’s a name I’ll be looking out for from now on!
I haven’t seen the movie so I don’t know the context but when the crotchal area becomes moist, chaffing ensues. Corn starch is a home remedy for staying dry. Generally, it should be avoided and something like Gold Bond used. There was very recent thread on this but I couldn’t find it.
As for the rating per the MPAA site it is for language and suggestive references.
I heard Jon Favreau interviewed about getting the movie made and he said he went into it ok with it being an R movie because otherwise he wouldn’t be able to use the language he wanted or put the kid in situations he wanted.
My search shows the rating is indeed for “for language, including some suggestive references”. In Canada it seems to be getting a 14A rating, except for in Quebec where it rates a “G”, god love 'em.
I look forward to seeing this. Saw some interview he gave where talking to some top chefs set him straight on a few things. For instance, he envisioned scenes where he walks through the market in his chef outfit sampling wares but changed his mind when told in no uncertain terms that would be douche-like.
Also loved it - IMHO a very family friendly film. Dad and son bonding, etc.
Regarding the R rating - it might have to do with the language in the pivotal blowing-his-stack scene. I don’t recall the language specifically, but it didn’t seem like it was toned down at all. Otherwise, it seemed like it was really a PG film.
I was somewhat amused that Favreau cast 2 of the hottest women in Hollywood as his ostensible romantic partners - Sofia Vergara & Scarlett Johansson. Sure, why not! He’s got the cred to get them to sign-on.
To be fair, it doesn’t necessarily take much cred to get Sofia Vergara to sign on. She did shoot guns out of her boobs in Machete 2. And Scarlett Johansson seems to have been on a mission to be in every single movie released this year.
But that is the benefit of being writer and director I suppose.
I haven’t seen the film yet, but Favreau was a guest on the Doug Loves Movies podcast and mentioned that it had been given an R because it had more than one “fuck.”
ETA: The real reason, of course, being that the MPAA are a bunch of grade-A assholes with no accountability to anyone.
Yeah, I guess I’ve become desensitized to “fucks”. Also, just now remembering there was marijuana use which was depicted as totally o.k. Still, a very mild R.
The cool thing about Jon casting Sofia and Scarlett is that he has chemistry with both of them. The pairings sound crazy on paper but it really works onscreen. With Sofia’s character you can see how happy his being happy makes her. With Scarlett’s character you can tell she really cares about him, and, of course, the food. The “suggestive scenes” may well be the bit where he cooks her a late night meal of noodles. That was sexy!
There aren’t that many known “rules” concerning ratings, but one of them is, drug use (including marijuana) is an automatic PG-13, but not necessarily an R.
However, the use of the F-word more than once (or just once if it used in any way other than an interjection) is an automatic R.
Saw it today and thought it was great. I left the theatre with a big grin on my face. Fun and sweet but not saccharine. I hope Favreau has a sleeper hit on his hands. I’ll probably see it again and take The Fella.
In addition to the praise for Leguizamo, Robert Downey Jr. killed in his scene.
One more set of kudos to throw on the pile. My capsule review (for my Facebook friends) was nearly identical to the OP – great foodie porn, wonderful heartwarming family bonding, travelogue and kick-ass soundtrack.
If you download the soundtrack (which I did) you get a liner notes document that contains a couple of recipes (including the cubano sandwich).
It’s very unlike the Cubano sandwich served at taquerias here in Chicago, which are “everything and the kitchen sink” including avocado and sliced bits of hot dog.
Actually, I want the carne asada that John Leguizamo tasted.
