Chef's Special (Fuera de carta) (2008) directed by Nacho G. Velilla

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Director: Nacho G. Velilla

Writers:Oriol Capel (writer)
Antonio Sánchez (writer)
David Sánchez (writer as David S. Olivas)
Nacho G. Velilla (writer)

Release Date: 6 April 2008 (Málaga Film Festival, Spain)
15 March 2009 (QFest, USA)
24 April 2009 (Italy)

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Plot: Energetic performances from Almodóvar regulars Javier Cámara (Talk to Her) and Lola Dueñas (Volver) anchor this wholly entertaining farce bustling with quick-witted dialogue and comical hi-jinks.

Bright, breezy and briskly directed by Nacho G. Velilla, this Spanish delight was the Opening Night of the Lincoln Center’s Spanish Cinema Now and even had The New York Times declaring it “a raucous comedy.”

Chef Maxi (Camára) has plenty on his plate. Between running a high-end restaurant, keeping it in the black and corralling his unpredictable staff, who could begrudge him a foul-mouthed outburst, or two, or several? His best gal pal and next door neighbor Alex (Dueñas) is desperate to find a good man while sous-chef Ramiro can't put his hard-partying days behind him. Add to the mix an unexpected reunion with two estranged children and a blossoming gay romance with a closeted international athlete, and you've got one troubled gourmet. Now the Michelin Guide food critic is coming to review his restaurant and it whips Maxi into such a frenzy the he must learn to juggle the new dynamics his children and lover bring to the table, with over-the-top, hilarious results.

"Raucous comedy! Mr. (Javier) Camara, who played the nurse in Pedro Almodovar's Talk to Her, is an expert farceur." - The New York Times

"This delicious farce overflows with hilarity! Cámara (Almodóvar’s “Talk to Her”) gives a masterful comic performance, supported by a wonderful cast, particularly Lola Dueñas." - Miami Herald

"A gay culinary treat! With superb filmmaking and a clever story." - glaadBLOG

"Delightful! An engagingly fun movie filled with its fair share of drama, comedy and everything else in between." - One Popcorn Coming Right Up!

"Fresh and funny, with continuous comic gags that pull more than one smile out of you." - Junior's Cineblog

Awards: 2009 Fotogramas de Plata Award as Best Movie Actor (Mejor Actor de Cine) to Javier Cámara
2009 Goya Award Nomination as Best Actor (Mejor Actor Principal) to Javier Cámara and as Best Supporting Actor (Mejor Actor de Reparto) to Fernando Tejero
2009 Audience Award as Outstanding Dramatic Feature Film to Nacho G. Velilla (L.A. Outfest)
2008 Audience Award as Best Film to Nacho G. Velilla (Málaga Spanish Film Festival) and Silver Biznaga Award as Best Actor (Mejor Actor) to Javier Cámara; Golden Biznaga Award Nomination to Nacho G. Velilla
2009 Premio ACE Award as Best Actor to Javier Cámara and as Best Supporting Actor to Benjamín Vicuña
2009 Spanish Actors Union Award Nomination as Performance in a Minor Role, Male (Reparto Cine - Categoría Masculina) to Luis Varela and as Supporting Performance, Female (Secundario Cine - Categoría Femenina) to Chus Lampreave

@IMDb
@Amazon: Chef's Special
@Netflix
@TLA Releasing
@Wolfe Video 

 







 

Cast (in credits order)
Javier Cámara ... Maxi
Benjamín Vicuña ... Horacio
Lola Dueñas ... Alex
Fernando Tejero ... Ramiro
Chus Lampreave ... Celia
Luis Varela ... Jaime
Cristina Marcos ... Marta
Alexandra Jiménez ... Paula
Junio Valverde ... Edu
Alejandra Lorenzo ... Alba
Mariano Peña ... Álvaro
Fernando Albizu ... Valero
Carlos Leal ... Pascal Sánchez
Alberto Jo Lee ... Dae-Su
Jesús Fuente ... Director del colegio
Santiago Meléndez ... Cliente enfadado
Eduardo Velasco ... Guarda Estudios
Ana Prada ... Señora mayor
María Jesús Llorente ... Mujer cliente (as Mª Jesús Llorente 'Chupi')
Pepe Martín ... Niño 1
Eduardo Molina ... Niño 2
Yiyo Alonso ... Fontanero
Carlos Olalla ... Quique
Jorge Alonso ... Médico
María Tasende ... Enfermera 1
Raquel Ortega ... Enfermera 2
Font García ... Operario 1
Fernando Cueto ... Operario 2
Manuel Vidal ... Regidor
Adela Huete ... Mensajera
Mari Franç Torres ... Cantante 1
Alberto Rivas Orio ... Cantante 2
Pascual Cid Arregui ... Padre futbolista 1
Juan Lorenzo Catena ... Entrenador
Iván Carbonell ... Chaval 1
Francisco Hernández ... Chaval 2
Alejandro Cabrera ... Chaval acosado
Aingeru Mora ... Pedro - 2º maitre (as Aingeru Mero)
Ángel Germán ... Pinche 1
Laura Puerta ... Pinche 2
Cristina Carretero ... Pinche 3
José Luis Armendáriz ... Pinche 4
Salvador Jiménez ... Pinche 5
Rocío Lozano ... Pinche 6
Roberto Buika ... Pinche 7
Isabel Gabana ... Camarera 1
Richard Capstick ... Camarero 2
Saúl Gutiérrez ... Camarero 3
Javier García ... Camarero 4
José Javier Hernán Cabo ... Camarero 5
Santiago Borja ... Camarero 6
Marco Arturo Muñoz ... 1er Office
Zoifa Sozorange ... 2º Office
Manuel García Cancío ... Representante Michelín

       
Maxi & Horacio

Comments

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Spanish gay themed movie makers know how to do comedy, and Chief's Special is a good example of that. It's a really nice comedy. Maybe, as in previous example, it could have been a little more sexy: it's strange, from what I know Spain is quite a liberal country, but in almost all the gay themed comedy, the sexuality is down-played, letting the spectator a lot to its own imagination. Anyway, both characters, Maxi and Horacio, are nice and funny, and there is a bunch of supporting characters, even the female one ;-) that are worthing seeing the movie. And it has an happy ending! Elisa

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, Spanish guys know how to do comedy. Elisa

[starsinshapes.livejournal.com]

The actor playing Horacio is gorgeous.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

And for that reason I wouldn't mind a bit more of smushy scenes, but nevertheless, it's a more than average good movie, and as you can see above, there is at least a kiss scene ;-) Elisa

[lorettasilks.livejournal.com]

Watched this movie about a year ago, so hilarious! Good to see such an attractive man like Horacio feeling attracted to someone like Maxi, who despite his quick flare for tantrums [because he is a chef and constantly seeks perfection] but also because he must come to terms as a father and finally a lover.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I have to say that, yes, Maxi is not my type ;-) but he is so funny that in the end, he was attractive. Elisa