Fuera de carta

Stars Chef Maxi (Javier Cámara) , a culinary genius/drama queen with too much on his plate. He is a well-known chef of recognized prestige, owner of a fashionable restaurant in Chueca (the gay district of Madrid) and whose most important goal being to get the restaurant rated by the Michelin guide. He lives his homosexuality without complexes with his employees as his closest confidants -including Alex (Lola Dueñas) and Ramiro (Fernando Tejero). Immediately afterwards, two situations occur that make poor Maxi feel like he's in trouble. On the one hand, the mother of her children (with whom they had broken up some time ago and who now suffered from a terminal illness), dies, leaving Alba (Alejandra Lorenzo), a girl, and Edu (Junio Valverde), a teenager. For Maxi, none of this was in his plans and it terrifies him, because he doesn't know what to do. The appearance of his two children, the result of a showcase marriage , and his new neighbor, an attractive former Argentine soccer player, will dynamite his life and make him rethink his scale of values. Just when you think you can't laugh anymore, it takes things one step further.

This is a non-stop comedy with twists and turns, involving Maxi, the children, the employees in the restaurant, the handsome neighbor, and Maxi's parents; all of them will completely turn his life upside down . 'Fuera de carta' is a comedy that takes advantage of the mysteries of the search for love of any kind, but above all and more than anything, using the always controversial issue of discrimination and gay love, but here with full of clichés. Nacho Velilla, until then director and screenwriter of successful series "Aida and Siete Vidas", made the leap to the big screen. With this film starring Javier Camara, whom he met when they were both ravajabam in ¨7 Vidas¨. The jokes, although somewhat strong, never fall into the ordinary. What the film clearly implies is that any homosexual person willing to enjoy it should be, with the film, able to laugh at themselves. It is a proposal in which humor has been combined with the transmission of values, knowing very well, Nacho G. Velilla, when it was time to joke, and when, time to impart a good message of acceptance, in a society that is exclusive. Likewise, room is also given to the topic of the single-parent family, which is neither encouraged nor punished. We are simply described the meaning of having to live in such circumstances. In this case, where we have, on the one hand, a man who, for the first time, must play that role and without yet being sure he wants it. And on the other, with two boys, who, given the recent death of their mother, must get used to living with someone with whom until then they had had no connection.

The picture attempts to spread optimism about the events of life , friendship , fidelity , optimism , and love , including its amusing sides as well as sad ones. The roles in this film are all lovable despite being rather pathetic and silly . The picture benefits a likable main and support cast. There's an important cast taking part in this uneven but sympathetic film, such as: Javier Cámara as a prestigious chef whose his most important goal being to get the restaurant rated by the Michelin guide; Benjamín Vicuña as his neighbor, an attractive famous Argentinian ex-soccer player who moves in; Lola Dueñas as the hysterical employee who eagerly wants to get a boyfriend at any price, Fernando Tejero as Ramiro, the dessert manager, who mistakes a tire representative for a food critic, Alexandra Jiménez as the pregnant cook. Furtheemore other vetran actors as Chus Lampreave, Luis Varela, Cristina Marcos, Mariano Peña, Fernando Albizu, among others .

The cinematography by David Omedes is luxurious as well as colorful, being filmed in Madrid . Atmospheric and lively musical score by Juanjo Javierre , adding some catching songs . "Fuera de carta (Chef's Special) " being skillfully directed by Nacho G Velilla , and it turned out to a big success at 2008 Spanish box office . This director was born in Zaragoza , Aragon , location where he often shoots his flicks . He is a good director , producer and writer, expert on comedies and especially known for ¨Villaviciosa De Al Lado¨ , ¨No Manches Frida¨ , ¨No Lo Llames Amor... Llámalo X¨ , ¨Perdiendo El Norte¨ , as well as his successful TV series , such as ¨Aida¨ with Carmen Machi , ¨Siete Vidas¨ , ¨Fenómenos¨ , ¨Buscando El Norte¨. Rating : Average but passable , 5.5/10 . The picture will appeal to Spanish comedy enthusiasts, though it also packs confusion, mayhem, bad taste , profanity and big fun .

Chef's special, or fuera de carta en español. The zany, wacky goings-on in a restaurant, run by chef maxi. He's overwhelmed by the antics of his workers, the customers, and even his personal life. When he tries to fix alex up with the new neighbor horacio, it all goes wrong! The neighbor thinks maxi wants him, instead! But alex thinks horacio already has a girlfriend. What a mess. Can this all get straightened out? The script needed some cleaning up.... some scenes are just silly. When maxi and his daughter do a dance while fixing breakfast, it just felt like filler. When the son is very angry at max, they have a huge fight, but a minute later, the son and dad are friends again. And in the next scene, they are enemies again. There is some fun comedy... at one point, alex says "do you think i'm showing too much cleavage?" and turns around to show how her very low cut dress shows off her butt ...cleavage. It's a bedroom farce. Lots of adult subject matter and cussing. With some serious moments here and there. You'll recognize grandma celia (chus lampreave)... she was in all the almodovar films! It's pretty good. Directed by nacho velilla. He's won a bunch of film fest awards.

Besides that, shoddy writing and extremely predictable. A very awkward watch.

First, I should say that the movie definitely had some funny, enjoyable scenes. However, the movie was laden with way too many derogatory gay jokes. I was uncomfortable hearing so many bigoted, insulting, ignorant jokes. Many in the audience I was in laughed, but I squirmed at every "joke." Even in the movie's context of perhaps mocking homophobes, it was not necessary to have some many. Could you imagine a movie about African-Americans full of white characters spouting out a constant barrage of jokes about fried chicken and bananas and athletic prowess? And was it necessary for the main character to be such an effeminate stereotype? As for the plot, the director's soap opera experience was obvious; the plot had several wrenching shifts from light humor to attempts at deep seriousness. If you want to see good Spanish humor without the stereotyping and gay-bashing "jokes," I'd suggest Almodovar's many excellent comedies.

I hesitated between "4" and "7" as the movie isn't really bad but also not very excellent either.

In regards to the homophobic conservatism that exists actually, it's good to have a light movie that involves gays.

On the other hand, the movie is really heavy as the funny lines are crude, full of clichés. In fact, the movie depicts a bit gays like a special gender and maybe like fragile people who were expected to hide. I don't think it's fair. Beyond this, i don't really care about gays: they can do whatever they like but i never understood the need to have gay movies shelves in shops. What interests me is a good story and a good story involves every one.

Another problem is that the movie runs after too much themes: it can be a movie about restaurant, but also a romance or about single parenthood.

If the cast and production is top, finally, i felt like watching a sitcom and that's not the definition of a movie!