MOVIE REVIEW: THE MENU

 

A young couple travels to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.

Director: Mark Mylod

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Judith Light, John Leguizamo

Release Date: November 18, 2022

Genre: Comedy, Horror, Thriller

Rated R for strong/disturbing violent content, language throughout and some sexual references.

Runtime: 1h 46m

The Menu is a glossy, sharply written satire that delivers some devilishly dark comedy that touches on themes of class warfare but never delves too deep into them.  Mark Mylod's film is directed with a steady hand as he sets up the setting on the island and high end restaurant.  The entire film has a slick modernist visual that echoes David Fincher's unappreciated The Game from the late 90s.  This film is never as subversive or surprising as Fincher's mind trip since it lays its cards out on the table fairly early on.  The script doesn't provide multilayered characters instead everyone is a type with only the smallest sprinkling of background details to flesh them out.  There's very little depth to them with the film relying on the performer’s talent and charisma.  Thankfully, the film is blessed with a excellent cast of actors who elevate the film with a fun, committed performances.  Ralph Fiennes serves as the film's lifeblood with his turn as the Chef who both measured and menacing at the same time.  In lesser hands, this character would have come off as some sort of cinematic Soup Nazi but Fiennes is able add so much more than what's on the page to make him far more fascinating.  Anya Taylor-Joy gets the lion share of the screen time and she's dependable as usual.  She gives the character a believable sense of self reliance and underlying toughness that's clearly out of place among the assorted upper crust.  The rest of the supporting cast all make the most of their limited screen time with Hong Chau, Judith Light and John Leguizamo making you wish their roles were just a bit larger and fleshed out.  The Menu is the kind of film that works in spite of itself, a credit to its cast and director but you get the sense it could have been something really special.  

B-