It's likely that you have at some point in your life become excessively snobbish and nerdy about something if you're reading a blog like this one. You upset yourself by saying or acting in a pretentious, obnoxious manner in reference to a movie, music, or other work of art. You are going to adore The Menu if you can relate to that in any way. Frankly, you'll probably like it any way, but if you've ever made a deep cut, grating reference to sound smart, it'll just up your degree of appreciation. The Menu is a marvellously passionate, humorous middle finger to snobbery and contemporary social relations.
Two of the 12 people who have spent a hefty sum of money for a reservation at Hawthorne are Tyler and Margot, played by Nicholas Hoult and Anya Taylor-Joy (both shortly to be part of the Mad Max universe). On its own private island, the award-winning restaurant Hawthorne has a head chef named Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) who is widely regarded as the best in the world. Tyler immediately comes out as someone who takes his subject matter way, far too seriously thanks to his offensive use of food terminology. But at Hawthorne, where there are so many regulations, traditions, and menu items specifically designed for its particular clientele, that level of snobbery is perfectly acceptable. It emphasises the little things. things, in this instance, start to add up to something bigger and possibly sinister.
Slowik's dinner's mystery is slowly revealed by filmmaker Mark Mylod (Succession), and it is done in the manner of the best, most expensive Chef's Table episode ever. We're talking full-on food p**n here, complete with intricate reactions, flavour profiles, and dish names and ingredient lists in the screen titles. As a result, the level of solace that many people get while watching food television serves as a sharp contrast to the complicated mystery that is getting more and more acute.
While we won't explain what exactly is going on here, we will say that it is wonderfully (pun intended) fulfilling. It isn't sci-fi, but it is so messed up that we took the executive decision to cover it on the site nonetheless. Slowik has a strategy that connects every customer, dish, and detail to a lofty mission statement that not only puts his customers in risk but also flips the script on its viewers.
There was undoubtedly a risk that because The Menu is so critical of its characters, it would also become pretentious and snobbish like the society it is mocking. Thankfully, because of how polished and well-acted the movie is, it never reaches that point. You love Hoult for being a grouchy ass. Ralph Fiennes is Ralph Fiennes, and Taylor-Joy is intense and powerful. They make the ideal icing on the cake of this subversive dark comedy, which also stars John Leguizamo, Hong Chau, Rob Yang, Janet McTeer, and Judith Light in supporting roles.
