Fantastic!

Dreadfully Boring

The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

The reasons behind motivations for making this movie completely escapes me. Rarely (thankfully) do I come cross with this type of a movie, which from the outset has everything going for it's success. It has an incredible international ensemble cast, some of who are remarkably talented actors, setting is already stunning without having to even do "set decoration" as you are using one of the world's best restaurants as a stage... -And then you waste every single potential this movie ever had, by providing a completely clueless director, beyond boringly bland, meaningless script, screw up lighting, sound, cinematography, select an idiotic soundtrack with the most unfitting selection songs you can think of, plus you screw up the sound mixing where music is way too loud, and talking becomes almost muffled, then you give your incredible cast nothing but naïve, ridiculous, moronic lines to mull over in 4 languages, and you are bound to get this kind of pretentiousness served up with incredibly unremarkable Spanish/Catalan actors and actresses whose correct place would be in the dark corners of the local amateur theatre. What ever potential this movie had, was without any doubt lost in the hands of totally incompetent director and even more incompetent writer, who focus on things that have nothing to do with the weak plot, and then embellish it with even more incredibly pretentious, hypocritical presentation of a high-end haute cuisine. This movie starts to annoy you from the very first minute, and the source of annoyances just seem to pile up scene after another. If there is something meaningful to say about this movie, one could only hope, that all of this would actually been made on purpose, possibly to portray how pretentious the wealthy jet-set group concentrated around ridiculously exaggerated modern fusion molecular haute cuisine cooking actually can be, such as actually serving battered, deep fried fish bones, and charging 60 euros for a plate. If this isn't stupidity, I don't know what is. Some of the highly rated three star Michelin restaurants actually DO this kind of "cooking" day-in-day-out, all this being served to completely ignorant group of wealthy socialites, who wouldn't be able to tell 10 euro bottle of sparkling wine and 150 euro bottle champagne apart, if you present it to them as "exquisite". (BTW. I happen to know for a fact, this has happened for real at least once in a certain three star Michelin restaurant.) Thankfully, there are some three star Michelin restaurants, that actually do serve proper, well defined haute cuisine, but not the way it being presented on this movie, which belongs to the bargain basket at your local supermarket. This movie is nothing but an embarrassment for its makers.

With haute-cuisine as its main theme, one would expect an array of exquisite dishes being served up, and exhibited to every last mouth watering detail. Alas, there are no close up shots of delicious looking food. A highly praised restaurant is mostly so a platform that allows for the characters attending, to act and speak in an affected manner. The problem with that, is that nothing interesting or witty is being said at any point. The script veers oddly between overdone "fine" manners and low brow slapstick.Another issue is the Catalan pretentiousness in this film. It seems the film maker so desperately wants to prove that Catalans are a completely separate entity from Spain, that not a single Spanish person is to be heard or seen. Quite unrealistic if your restaurant is located in Barcelona. The tables are filled with rich Irish, American, English and Japanese customers, to which they abase themselves with no qualms. Elitism is just fine, as long as its not the Spanish rich they have to suck up to.Thirdly, the opening credits promise a special appearance by the Nancys Rubias, a popular punk-pop band in Spain (and Catalunia). When they finally appear, their performance is muted, and is substituted by some random 60s song. We see the band members bop about a few seconds, and that's it; total let down. Which sums up the general modus operandi of the film, it promises a lot and delivers very little.

Whenever you come across these kinds of group ensemble films (and there are quite a few in this 'restaurant' category), you're always making selections as to which pairs you find yourself choosing to follow, and wither or not to patiently wait and deal with others, or fast forward to those you have more desire to watch. But this one's the rare exception, because there are some you find more drawn to, but none are so off-putting you cannot stay through them. And then there's the pair of Bassols and Cornet. Obviously, they're the heart of this warm-hearted film, and to give credit to the production, they're not left on their own, to dominate and overpower it.. (although they most certainly could). Especially with her.. binged.it/ZFFLey .. she is just so stand-out alluring. The film doesn't allow confirmation as to the true range of her acting talent, but it does show a glimpse just how incredible her potential might be.. (and while her still images are beautiful, she's just so much more gorgeous on-screen).

"Tasting Menu" (2013 release from Spain; 85 min.) brings the story of various people, set against the backdrop of a fabulous tasting menu meal at the last night of business for Chaluka, a trendy restaurant whose owner and chef, a woman named Mar Vidal, has decided to close it and try something different. As the movie opens, we see Mar Vidal being interviewed on TV, with the TV host begging for a seat on that last evening (she refuses). We then get to know a slew of people, all of whom are preparing to show up for the final meal. There is Marc and Raquel, who made their reservation a year ago but since then have separated. They nevertheless decide they don't want to miss this dinner. There are a couple of Japanese guys who fly in from Tokyo, thinking of hiring Mar Vidal for her next project. There is ailing Countess Matilda, who shows up with the ashes of her deceased husband "because he didn't want to miss this". There is Walter Reilly who may or may not be a food critic. And so on. To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.Couple of comments: first, this is the latest movie from Spanish director Roger Gual (best known for his movie "Smoking Room" a decade or so ago). Second, because there are so many main characters, this movie almost feels like an ensemble piece, or perhaps a soap opera. Will Marc and Raquel get back together? What's the story behind the Countess? Will the Japanese convince Mar Vidal to come to Tokyo? etc. etc. Third, this movie is the latest movie geared specifically towards foodies (with yet more to come--see Jon Favreau's "Chef" about to be released). We see all kinds of interesting dishes (presumably Spanish regional food from the Costa Brava, where the movie is set). Last but not least, there are some interesting acting performances, none more so than Claudia Bassols as the stunningly beautiful Raquel. Bottom line: this movie is a light-hearted romcom that thankfully doesn't take itself too seriously. The movie flew by in no time, but gets away from you like a feather quickly upon leaving the theater. A psychological drama this ain't!"Tasting Menu" opened this past weekend without any pre-release buzz or advertising at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati. The matinée screening where I saw this at was not well attended, in fact I had a semi-private screening (as in: there was only 1 other person in the theater besides myself). This movie is not bad but neither is it great. If you are in the mood for something that is as yummy but fluffy as a fresh croissant straight from the oven, I'd recommend you check out "Tasting Menu", be it in the theater or on DVD/Blu-ray.