Dog’s Movie House: “The Menu” A Sharp Comedy Skewering Pretentious Food Culture And Compelling Thriller All In One!

“The Menu” concerns Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), a young couple who are part of a group of twelve who are venturing to Hawthorne Island, a remote island housing one of the most prestigious restuarants in the world. These people have paid 1250 bucks a plate for the unique experience of being served by dynamic chef Slowik (a never better Ralph Fiennes) and his group of cultish cooks. The dinner is a four hour, multi-course meal that grows more and more ridiculous with each passing dish. The guest-list includes a snarky food critique (Janet Mcteer) and an aging movie star (John Leguizamo) along with others who seem to have certain things in their pasts they would like to be kept secret. Margot is a last minute addition, invited by Tyler when his original date was unable to make it. That becomes a problem for the enigmatic Slowik, who’s menu is dependent almost entirely on his guest list. His intentions are revealed as the night continues and Slowik’s plans are a bit more nefarious than your average chef’s. It’s up to the level-headed Margot to find a way out before Slowik’s final course.

Man, this movie is sharp. I don’t know much about the foodie subculture, but “The Menu” skewers it to the point where I felt I did. The descriptions of the courses that set up each seen get increasingly more ridiculous and funny with each passing dish and Slowik’s presentation has to be seen to be believed. Slowik shows utter contempt for his customers and they love it, believing it’s all part of the show. Director Mark Mylod (known for his work on the HBO hit “Succession”) and his writers Seth Reiss and Will Tracey manage to satirize their target without sacrificing a compelling narrative. That’s harder than it looks, and you will both laughing and gasping at the same time. Fiennes and Taylor-Joy are in fine form, their characters establishing a rapport despite their disparate backgrounds. The fact that Margot is not a pretentious foodie or an elitist is a fact that works to her advantage is the only thing that gives her a chance to survive the night and Taylor-Joy makes for a compelling heroine.

Overall, “The Menu” is an original, thought provoking and often hilarious thriller that makes the most of its talented cast. It’s not for everyone, but lovers of on-the-mark satire will find a lot to enjoy here. It’s also great counterprogramming to something like “Black Panther” and something for adults to enjoy. 4 1/2 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!

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