REVIEW: THE MENU

4/5

Death By Chef.

106 Mins. Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Aimee Carrero, Paul Adelstein, Reed Birney, Judith Light & John Leguizamo. Director: Mark Mylod.

Late to the table, but for your consideration, Fox Searchlight Pictures would like to invite you to try 'The Menu' as they so eloquently and aptly put it. So, would you like to see it? 

Appetizers.

For starters, how about an amuse bouche of foreboding? In this revenge dish, best served as only you know too well.

A seasoned Ralph Fiennes. In his prime like steak. 'The English Patient' mouth-watering and deliciously dark after his turns for the crown as M in Bond's 'No Time To Die' and 'The King's Man' perfect prequel. Say yes to the chef that could even give Gordon Ramsay kitchen nightmares, as he claps his hands together. 

'The Queen's Gambit' of the 'Peaky Blinders' period perfect, Anya Taylor-Joy is fair game in a restaurant chocked full of entitled people, ripe for picking. No stranger to a 'Split' or 'Last Night In Soho' escape plan, this may be the run that finally finds the most amazing actress of the moment's award. 

Main Course.

How about a cheeseburger more F. O. M. O., food porn, taste bud teasing (sorry, Five Guys) than that grilled cheese sandwich in Jon Favreau' s 'Chef'? But don't worry, you'll get to that later. Maybe this chef's table will have its cake and eat it own spin-off cooking show too. 

A dark comedy horror, seared to chef's special perfection under the decadent direction of 'Succession's' Mark Mylod indulging those who only feed their sense of self, before spoiling us all. A man who knows how to make things roll (heads) without filling up on bread. 

The perfect place setting and sublime scenery in this satire produced by Adam McKay and Will Ferrell (back together again after we thought the show was over with 'Winning Time') and Betsy Koch. A classic concept conceived not just to poke forks at the 'have their cake and eat it' crowd, but also to stick the scissors in and needle those superstar chefs who think their celebrity is more important than their culinary delights. 

(Just) Desserts. 

Just deserts to Nicholas Hoult. 'About A Boy', this Great Brit is normally so likeable ('Warm Bodies' (ain't that the truth) and 'Tolkien' for his rings of power). But here with 'Favourite' ponce, he's a pompous Beast. A food groupie who would sell someone else's pound of flesh all for some soulless food that fills up on the pretentious. "Foodies"! Ugh! 

More 'Knives Out' (or should we say "in" like the sequel name Rian Johnson should have gone with?) than a 'Glass Onion' on Netflix. But nowhere near as predictable as we peel back each layer until we cry like someone split the wine glass stem instead of the bill. Watch your fingers! 

Sweet revenge in a death by chocolate finale your palette will never quite identify. Just when you thought the "coast" was clear. One that's anything but cheese and biscuits bland.  You'll be screaming everything like bloody murder. Except "Taco Tuesday" like LeBron James. 

Drinks.

Here's to the maître d'hôtel Hong Chau. The 'Downsizing' breakout star from the HBO 'Watchmen' series really is the master of the house. Making the most of her calendar menu with this and 'The Whale' of the Oscar time everyone is talking about with Brendan Fraser's latest. Nothing escapes this maestro of a performance. And just wait until she gets your coat. 

A toast to Janet McTeer. Who would have thought that the legend herself could give us a character even scarier than her outstanding 'Ozark' one? But then again, how many food critics have you met?  Her editor,  'Memoirs Of A Geisha' supporting star Paul Adelstein (so good in Kevin Hart's 'True Story' for Netflix last year), now knows how the 'Prison Break' characters he hunted for ego sport, as well as law and order like William Fichtner feel. 

How about another round for John Leguizamo? The character actor legend who brought bad (actually good) tidings to David Harbour's Santa for a 'Violent Night' 'tis season is the "movie star". And he steals the show like he does the headlines with the fact that he based this character on "the worst person (he) ever met... Steven Seagal." Well, I must be under siege. Because I actually liked his character. Maybe his long-suffering personal assistant doesn't share my sentiment. But Aimee Carrero 'Level's Up' and plays her perfectly. 

Add a couple of legends to the mix in the form of Reed Birney and Judith Light (with the best gesture of the whole affair) to this simmering plot pot, and you have a recipe for a beautiful disaster. Let it all boil over. 

Stick a fork in 'The Menu'. This is done. Well done. A rich delight for your serving. Now, how about seeing a wine list? TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery', 'Burnt', 'Chef'.