Jon Favreau’s light comedy Chef serves up flavoursome feel-good moments

DESPITE a few bland ingredients, the likable Chef serves up plenty of feel-good moments for those with an appetite for such fare.

John Leguizamo, Emjay Anthony and Jon Favreau in a scene from Chef.

A VERY likable light comedy, Chef serves up plenty of flavoursome feel-good moments for those with an appetite for such fare.

Jon Favreau (who also directs) stars as Carl Casper, a once-acclaimed cook whose culinary cutting edge has been blunted in recent times.

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A career compromise of managing a kitchen in someone else’s restaurant isn’t sitting well with Carl. Soon he will have no option but to take a stand. The meanest food critic in the business is about to review Carl’s current menu.

John Leguizamo, Emjay Anthony and Jon Favreau in a scene from Chef.

Restaurant boss Riva (Dustin Hoffman) wants Carl to play it safe and prepare a selection of his greatest hits. Carl is convinced this would be an irreversible mistake.

Fast-forward 24 hours later — during which time a nuclear war between the cook and the critic has exploded on social media — and what’s left of Carl’s reputation is gone. So too is his job.

Faced with no option but to go looking for the flair that once made his name, Carl takes to the open road with his young son, Percy (Emjay Anthony).

Down in Florida, the pair purchase a secret weapon that just might blast Carl back into the business: a broken-down food truck in need of as much repair as its new owner’s confidence.

As both director and writer, Favreau clearly knows his way around a kitchen. The many scenes of finessed food-prep under pressure — particularly once Carl rediscovers his love of Cuban street cuisine — are executed to perfection.

Jon Favreau, Emjay Anthony and Sofia Vergara.

The banter between those turning up the heat on Carl and those chowing down on his creations is loose, lively and unforced.

Yes, the plotting does rely on a few bland ingredients too many as Carl predictably cooks his way back to where he should be.

Nevertheless, a heavily celeb-spiced support cast — Scarlett Johansson, and Robert Downey Jr are among the big names willing to make small, but telling contributions here — ensure Chef will appeal to most tastes throughout.

CHEF (M)

Director: Jon Favreau (Iron Man)

Starring: Jon Favreau, Emjay Anthony, Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr, Sofia Vergara

Verdict: Three stars. Can’t stand the heat? Find a new kitchen

Jon Favreau and John Leguizamo launch their own food truck in Chef.