THE MENU
In a CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY meets KNIVES OUT style of foodie satire, THE MENU (trailer here) serves up a comedic, edge-of-your-seat 106 minutes best experienced in theaters. I highly recommend going in knowing as little as possible, as the unraveling mystery behind the exclusive dining experience that the characters partake in is worth the ride. The basic premise: A wealthy group of individuals dines in one of the world's most exclusive and sought-after restaurants, led by head chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). The ensemble of patrons contains an excellent cast, and Mark Mylod does justice by all of them, layering and balancing each character’s storylines intricately. Anya Taylor Joy delivers a phenomenal performance per usual. And Hong Chau’s character also stood out, coming in strong with some much needed comic relief. While THE MENU starts off very mundane, it builds toward an explosive ending. I appreciated the way the film leaned heavily into the satirical absurdity, and even though I know very little about the world of high-end dining, I’ve heard some industry people joke that the film ought to come with a trigger warning.
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
