Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Chef (2014)

What is it about? 

A very talented chef loses himself and his creative edge and starts a food truck and a cross country episode to reclaim his creativity, passion and happiness for the craft, as well as rebuild his broken family. 

Who is in it? 

John Favreu - Carl Casper

Emjay Anthony - Percy

John Leguizamo - Martin

Sofia Vergara - Inez


Favorite Scene: 

After his son, Percy, tries to serve a customer a burnt sandwich, Carl pulls him aside and explains to him his passion for cooking, using his talent to better the lives of everyone, and serving others with pride. 

Favorite Quote: 

"I may not do everything great in my life, but I'm good at this. I manage to touch people's lives with what I do and I want to share this with you."

Review: 

Chef is a an interesting feel good movie. It's rare for me to be really into a film based around food and cooking, but the way this film was shot and presented really brought the art of food prep to life. Of course, the plot as described above in it's description is your typical movie about the protagonist turning recent poor luck into an opportunity to make things better. The film does lend to some humor, most of it based on modern technology, which provides a good chuckle here and there. 

Unlike Begin Again which it is often compared to, Chef doesn't provide much depth to it's characters, and sometimes you are left wondering simple questions like, where do they get permits from for every city? Where are they getting such awesome ingredients in every city? How did Martin find them in Miami? Why did his family break up to begin with? Why does he just get a random truck from his ex-wife's ex-husband? To say the least, there are some gaping holes which really pulls away from Chef's overall quality. 

Overall, Chef is a not a bad film as the relationship between Carl and his son carry the film enough to make it passable. A solid film, but not great. Check it out if you have some time on your couch to kill. 

Review: 2.5/5

Recently Read

Dome Pondering Move Review: Say You Will (2017)

What is it about? A recent high school graduate cares for his mother while attempting to navigate his first relationship following his father's suicide.  Who is in it? Travis Tope - Sam Nimitz Katherine Hughes - Ellie Vaughn Favorite Scene: [spoiler alert] Sam plays his song for his mom. Favorite Quote: Ellie: "I wish we could have met down the road, maybe when we were like 27." Sam: "I think we needed each other now." Review:  Say You Will was an absolutely pleasant surprise of a watch from the Amazon Prime offerings.  I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with this one, but after the credits rolled, it was a movie that provided authentic characters and a great lesson on life. We don't always have to have everything figured out, and it's okay if you don't.  What makes Say You Will so beautiful is that all of the characters are carrying some inner struggle that connects them in the moment and time that helps them through whatever it is. The unlike...

Dome Pondering - 2025 Year in Review

2025 brought depth and growth.  In many ways, 2025 provided so many challenges and opportunities, allowing for a deeper, more layered approach to the world we live in. Our world is changing, and often, not for the better. Over the last 365 days, life has been more complex, more exhausting, and is asking so much more of us through these transitions and nuances than it did 365 days ago.  No big deal, right?  But hey, you're here. We're here. And we're going into 2026 much stronger, whether we realize it or not. But before we do, let's bid adieu to 2025.  As always, I'm incredibly gratefu l to those of you who still visit this little speck of the internet that houses my thoughts, rambles, and learnings. Thank you for taking a break from instant dopamine hits and videos, and likely the much cooler options of prepared content and indulging my humbled words. It is much appreciated.  It's the 20th annual - TWENTY YEARS of doing this! - Dome Pondering Year in Review. Le...

Thoughts on John Cena's Final Match - "I'm okay with the tap out."

Wow, he tapped out?! Or did he? We all anticipated the final moment for John Cena in a pro wrestling ring, and what happened this past Saturday left all of us pro wrestling fans with an opinion - did you like the ending?  It was jarring to watch Cena tap out initially. However, as common as "final matches" are beginning to feel as of late (Dudley Boyz and Goldberg in 2025, AJ's announcement that 2026 is his last, and the strong rumor for the same fate for Brock Lesnar in 2026), as pro wrestling fans, we just don't believe yet that wrestling retirements are for real. Because why would we? Nonetheless, we've gotten some unique send-offs that tug on the emotion and mean more AFTER the dust has settled.  I think back to TNA Slammmiversary just this year, in Bubba Ray Dudley "giving up" and allowing himself to be put through the table for the Dudley Boyz send off. In the moment, it seemed awkward and weird. But as time has gone on, the finish has aged really...