Product Details

• Actors: Javier Camara, Lola Duenas, Fernando Tejero, Chus Lampreave, Benjamin Vicuna
• Directors: Nacho Garcia Veilla
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: Spanish
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: TLA
• DVD Release Date: October 20, 2009
• Run Time: 111 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002IC1RQY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,425 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Chef's Special" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This high-entertainment item about a gay chef struggling to get his life together sees former tube helmer Nacho Garcia Velilla tossing familiar ingredients into the pan and coming up with a throwback to the unabashedly vulgar, populist comedies of the '70s, elegantly remade for the present day. --Jonathan Holland, Variety

Product Description

Hilarious and heartfelt, this Spanish comedy wraps tales of close-knit bonds in a tart shell of slapstick comedy and one-liners, and throws in a tasty bit of international athlete for good measure.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Chef" has a lot on his plate, in this madcap romantic comedy from Spain, October 20, 2009

By 

Bob Lind "camelwest" (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Chef's Special (DVD)

Maxi is a nebbish, gay, drama queen, owner/chef of a struggling restaurant. He is helped out by a close-knit but somewhat scatterbrained group of employees, including his best gal pal, Alex, who seems to have a knack for being attracted to the wrong men. When a handsome, former superstar soccer player moves into Maxi's apartment building, Alex is instantly smitten, and recruits Maxi to help her make a play for him, but the handsome athlete turns out to be closeted and is actually attracted to Maxi instead. Meanwhile, Maxi reunites with his children from a failed marriage, a sullen teenage son and hyperactive 6 year old daughter, who come to live with him after the death of their mother. After years of being alone and set in his ways, Maxi finds it difficult to suddenly have a lover as well as having to be an "instant" good father, a role he never wanted.

"Fuera de carta (Chef's Special)" is a 2008 Spanish film directed and written by a team that mostly writes TV sitcoms in that country, and it shows. The pace is light and breezy, with madcap physical comedy and unexpected revelations delivering most of the laughs. And, despite some criticism in a few reviews that the script contains too many homophobic jokes, the context in which they are told (most by Maxi's somewhat senile father, who doesn't seem to be able to stop himself) makes it clear that they are a product of the ignorance of the person speaking, reminiscent of Archie on "All In The Family" in the US. Overall, I found this to be a well-written, positive and largely hysterical romantic comedy, much recommended to both gay and open-minded non-gay audiences. Five (Michelin) stars out of five!

DVD soundtrack is in Spanish with English subtitles. (Note that the film is very dialogue-intensive, so it takes a lot of constant reading to keep up with what is happening.) Extras include a "making of" featurette and photo album.

3.0 out of 5 stars A good mix of comedy and light drama, September 18, 2011

By 

Xochitl "Laura" (Texas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chef's Special (DVD)

I first saw Javier Camara in Talk to Her, he was great. It was suprising to see him look so different and playing a homosexual, which he did so well. I love to hear the Spanish accent.

5.0 out of 5 stars Tantrums, Michelin Stars and a bucket load of charm, April 13, 2011

By 

Tommy D "Tom" (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chef's Special (DVD)

As far as world cinema goes, Spain is not always seen as a major player, but with the likes of this offering I am hoping that things are changing. The plot centres around a gay restuarant owner who meets a closeted football player who is nationally known and a TV pundit, whilst he is desperately trying to get a Michelin star. Also his ex-wife dies leaving him a son and daughter - whom he has never known. And as they say hilarity ensues, and it is genuinely funny, the dialogue is razor sharp and delivered at a blistering pace. The characters are all well dveloped even if they at first appear slightly one dimensional, his nymphomaniac maitre d for example. It is thoughtful well written and acted with real care that shows how much everyone enjoyed making it.

Although billed as a gay movie, that part of the plot is really a sub text as this is really a story about relationships, ambition and acceptance, with a bucket load of humour.

I highly recommend it and if you like this then try 'Boys Town' its available from Amazon.co.uk but is still only Region 2, but another little Spanish gem.