Chef's Special (2008)

The Worst Film Ever

Simply Perfect

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

According to the back-of-the-box this film was a big hit in Spain. That's hard to believe as there are a lot of great films made in Spain and Chef's Special is the sort of pointless nonsense one usually finds in sitcoms on prime time TV.The plot...I'm not going to bother mentioning the plot other than the unbelievable romantic aspect of the story which involves a seemingly grounded former football star falling for a chef who is a complete buffoon.At best Chef's Special could be described as a farce (and that would be a very generous description) but it's really little more than cliché ridden slapstick full of awful characters. If you're looking for wacky gay comedy skip Chef's Special and watch The Birdcage again.

Maxi, the gay owner and chef of Xantarelle, a Madrid restaurant, is a man in search of the ultimate accolade that is given to places worth of a rating by the important Michelin Guide. Even though he is a talented cook, the cost for keeping such a high regarded eatery has taken its toll on him. When he is summoned to the hospital where his former wife is dying, he has to deal with another problem: he must face reality and take care of his son Edu, and his daughter Alba.Adding to Maxi's complications, he has fallen for a former soccer star, now a television commentator, Horacio, who has moved into the apartment across the hall from him. Alex, the female maitre'd has also set her eyes into winning Horatio's heart. Unfortunately, she has not a chance because Horacio is secretly in love with Maxi. Complications in their lives, and getting used to having the children around, play heavily into the new life he finds with his newly found family.Nacho G. Velilla, a notable producer in his native Spain, is making his directorial debut in this fast paced and often funny comedy, which he helped write. The main theme in the film takes a stand against homophobia in the person of a macho ex-soccer star who has the courage to come out to a wide audience in his sports program. The problems of raising what is considered a normal family is also another of the themes the film touches on. The best thing is the pacing Mr. Velilla gave the film, which turns out to be its best asset.Javier Camera is Maxi, the chef, a high energy individual who has no problem accepting his sexual orientation. Lola Duenas appears as the manager of the restaurant. Chilean Benjamin Vicuna makes us believe he is an Argentine former football star. The excellent Chus Lampreave shows up toward the end of the picture. She is a treasure in whatever role she is asked to play. It is the viewer's loss not to see more of this wonderful actress.

First, I should say that the movie definitely had some funny, enjoyable scenes. However, the movie was laden with way too many derogatory gay jokes. I was uncomfortable hearing so many bigoted, insulting, ignorant jokes. Many in the audience I was in laughed, but I squirmed at every "joke." Even in the movie's context of perhaps mocking homophobes, it was not necessary to have some many. Could you imagine a movie about African-Americans full of white characters spouting out a constant barrage of jokes about fried chicken and bananas and athletic prowess? And was it necessary for the main character to be such an effeminate stereotype? As for the plot, the director's soap opera experience was obvious; the plot had several wrenching shifts from light humor to attempts at deep seriousness. If you want to see good Spanish humor without the stereotyping and gay-bashing "jokes," I'd suggest Almodovar's many excellent comedies.

I saw this film afraid of what I was going to see was going to be something like Chuecatown (a self indulgent comedy about gays just for a group of gays). But I found something much better suitable for broader audiences.There are gay characters but the story show them as people with their good and their bad things. They are not idealistic perfect, nor the weeping victims of society, not evil, they're just persons. And that's a good staring point for the "normalization" of gay people also in movies.Of course there are some stereotyped behaviors, either from gay or heterosexual characters, but fits very well in the play, and are not very far away from some real truths.Most of gags work very well, the story is credible and having in mind that is a comedy for all family is a good entertainment. Maybe in some countries that prefer kids to watch violence than love scenes it can be somewhat slightly sexy, but here it is perfectly suitable for all family, as I think it should be.A very good "Opera-Prima" for a director/writer of sitcoms in Spain TV channels.