‘Chef’ Review
After helming one giga-budget film after another (the first two “Iron Man” outings and the bomb “Cowboys & Aliens”) writer-director-producer Jon Favreau returned to his indie roots (“Made,” “Swingers”) with “Chef,” the surprise indie hit of 2014. The low-budget film (but with a cast of A-list actors — Scarlett Johansson, Sofia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Robert Downey Jr., Dustin Hoffman, Oliver Platt, Bobby Cannavale, Amy Sedaris, Garry Shandling) centers around a top-tier Los Angeles chef (Favreau) who loses his restaurant job and starts up a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative juices, while piecing back together his estranged family. The gentle film is loaded with laughs and tantalizing food (the centerpiece Cubano sandwiches that put the chief back in the spotlights as he travels from Miami to Los Angeles with his best friend and estranged son) and a wonderful Latin Jazz soundtrack. Extras: Commentary with writer-director Jon Favreau and chef/co-producer Roy Choi. Vitals: Director: Jon Favreau. Stars: Jon Favreau, Emjay Anthony, Scarlett Johansson, Sofia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Robert Downey Jr., Dustin Hoffman, Oliver Platt, Bobby Cannavale, Amy Sedaris, Garry Shandling. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 114 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $25.921 million, Universal. 
