“Chef,” directed by Jon Favreau, promotes a positive message through the story of a broken family whose members glue themselves back together by selling Cuban sandwiches from a  food truck called El Jefe.

The film boasts an A-list cast including Jon Favreau (Carl Casper), Sofía Vergara (Inez), Scarlett Johansson (Molly)andRobert Downey Jr. (Marvin).

Favreau, who wrote, directed and starred in the film, portrays a brilliant chef in the midst of a midlife crisis. As the movie begins, Casper is fired from his restaurant, estranged from his family and searching for fulfillment in his life. He receives a terrible review from a well-known critic and begins to question his passion and talent for cooking.

In the midst of this inner turmoil, Casper, with the help of his ex-wife, buys a food truck, and drives across the country with his son and sous chef in order to share Cuban food and culture. Throughout the film, the audience watches as the bond between Casper and his son is strengthened through the act of cooking.

By the end of the movie, Casper has rekindled his relationship with his ex-wife, and as a result, their family is pieced back together. Favreau did an exceptional job portraying the rekindling of their relationship in a concise but meaningful way. He did not get bogged down in details; he merely skipped the drama and went straight to the joyful wedding scene.

Emjay Anthony does an exceptional job capturing our hearts from the moment we see him as Percy, Casper’s son. His interpretation of Percy’s naive and hopeful attitude are right on point and appeal to the audience. Anthony and Favreau display great chemistry and hold our attention with their strong bond.

The upbeat tone that runs through the entire film allowed me to connect with the story and the characters immediately. The movie lacks the typical, cheesy conflicts that arise in every other movie created today. There is no classic fight, or car crash, or dramatic scene; there is just a family having fun and living their dream life. “Chef” is merely a captivating film that puts a smile on your face and shares the wonderful experiences between a father and son.

If you are searching for a charming, light-hearted movie; “Chef” is the answer for you.