'Technically, the outside of your wall is public property. I know this because I had a plan to raise it and obscure your establishment." - Madam Mallory
"Three Stars is only for the Gods." -Margueritte
It is semi-unfortunate that I watched both Chef and The Hundred-Foot Journey in such short succession. They are so different and deserve to be reviewed separately and without interference. Unfortunately for Hundred-Foot Journey, it is the lesser of the two films.
Let's start with the positives. I immediately compared Hundred Foot Journey to Chef, but by all rights its two best comparison films are Ratatouille and Grumpy Old Men. A man/rat who thinks he is a cook without training is thrust into the world of high class french food. His world is pulled in two directions by his family and the female love interest with classical chef training. As to Grumpy Old Men, two obnoxious neighbors tussle over everything until they are the best of friends. Generally, I think that film should work hard to prioritize its conflicts and characters into main, secondary, tertiary etc. and dole out screen and plot time accordingly. This is and was the wrong approach for Hundred-Foot Journey. Each and every relationship was critical to the construction of the greater plot.
I will also point out that while I appreciated the strategy of Chef in the use of foley and music to achieve hunger within the audience. It is not the only way. Hundred-Foot Journey made me nearly as hungry through an emphasis on the teamwork, spices, and love behind each and every dish. What could a restaurant ever offer to compete with your family's secret recipe?
The only true negative that I felt was the lack of true conflict beyond the introspective. Our main hero leaves the nest for bigger and better things in Paris only to gain new skills and find himself adrift without the family and memory true soul food requires. This is an emotionally uplifting story but not a truly satisfying conflict resolution.
From opening bid to final price take it or leave it, I give The Hundred-Foot Journey 3.68 out of 5 stars.
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