I didn’t see a thread for The Menu and I really don’t think a movie like this should be put on the back burner.
This was a really alluring movie with some tasty, intense scenes as well as a handful of laughs tossed in. The tension really ratchets up during the different courses and there is a nice “us versus them” narrative that drives the story without being too overdone. There was one part sprinkled in that didn’t quite make sense to me, but I don’t know if I want to spoil it. I’ll post it in a moment after I have a moment to digest it.
Thanks for the bump. I’m surprised this movie got missed here at SDMB.
OK, the one part that I couldn’t get, I don’t think that I need to spoiler it.
During the movie, it’s revealed that Margot is a sex worker (I do like that there was no shaming or talking down to her about her life) and that she and Richard, the older man at the restaurant with his wife, had a previous encounter. I feel like I missed something there or something was left out because having the two at the restaurant separately seems like such a huge coincidence.
In case anyone wants to talk about the movie, I have a question.
Why did Tyler have to hang himself? I get it, he’s included in the ‘takers’ he knows everything about fine cuisine except how to do any of it, he doesn’t add anything to the art.
So what?
He appreciates it. He respects the Chef. None of the others do that.
So The Chef asks Tyler to hang himself, of course he would do it because he idolizes the man, but what did Tyler do wrong?
Tyler is the only one who knew and he was so desperate to experience the menu that he brought someone who wasn’t supposed to be a part of it. He’s the only diner that wants to get to the end. So his special punishment is he doesn’t get dessert.
He was. Again, so? This movie is not even close to subtle about the other messages it has about class and the modern obsession of consuming everything they see. He is so enthusiastic about food he will do anything to try what the Chef is preparing, in the context of the movie how does that make The Chef mad?
What does The Menu tell us about Tyler and people like him. Because I have no idea.
I think bringing an innocent person to die just so you can eat some food qualifies as a “taker.”
Anyway, I just watched this on Saturday and the movie has been stuck in my head. One thing I’m wondering about, was Margot always supposed to kill Elsa and go into the secret room in the chef’s house? She’s told about the silver door in the restaurant housing something “very special” but we never actually see in that room. Then later she goes to get a barrel that just happens to have a knife on it. And when she gets to the house she’s attacked by Elsa, who has a key to that room. But why would Elsa have that key if she’s not allowed in the house? And of course, they already had a cook waiting to play the coast guard.
I particularly liked when the tables were turned on Chef Slowik. Suddenly, his actions were being judged and his character was being found lacking. Margo says, “You’ve taken the joy out of eating. You cook with obsession, not love.”
Ok, but then that should be were he was left wanting instead The Chef attempts to humiliate Tyler by proving he can’t do the things he talks about enjoying. Again The Chef is the asshole here, Tyler is a guy who likes food a lot, but can’t make it so I guess he should hang himself.
Well yeah, the Chef is a petty asshole. He doesn’t like the one couple because they go to his restaurant a lot but can’t remember what they’ve had. He hates the actor because he didn’t like his movie.
Edit: Also, we don’t actually know what he said to Tyler. He might have just told he he’s not allowed to participate in the rest of the menu and so Tyler decided to kill himself.
Sure he’s an asshole, he lets the chick stab him in the thigh for attempting to fuck her, but this wouldn’t be a story at all if there wasn’t a code, sick as it is here. Each of these people didn’t just deserve to die, they were specifically selected to complete The Menu. He kills the old man because he eats but doesn’t appreciate, and the actor was part of the group stealing from him but the ‘I didn’t like your film so you are going to die’ was the scathing rebukes The Chef gets regularly in pursuit of his passion.
I am still struggling to see how Tyler broke The Chef’s code.
He tells him at the end “You are why the mystery has been drained from our art. You see that now, don’t you?” He’s an overly obsessed foodie. If the old man’s problem is that he doesn’t appreciate the food, Tyler’s problem is that all he does is appreciate without actually knowing if the food is good or not.
This is probably it. Essentially a tourist who ‘does Paris’ by going to the Louvre to get a picture of the Mona Lisa and then leaves. The things he eats he lists by ingredient or preparation like a Extreme Foodie Experiences You Must Try checklist.
I think I read that there was an alternate ending for Tyler. Instead of hanging himself, Chef offered to teach him how to cook and put Tyler to work cleaning dishes. Later, when Margot is allowed to leave she calls to Tyler who refuses to leave his assigned job and ends up dying with the rest.
I would prefer that ending for Tyler, but I think it would break up Margot’s triumphant walk out so I get why they went with what they did.
