I enjoyed this movie. I thought it was well-done. But the movie seems to completely change into another movie when the son moves away. Perhaps they could have done it better as a parallel story, or just dropped it altogether, and just tried to expand the small town part instead.
Overall, still an enjoyable, feel good movie.
208 Reviews
A Hundred Percent Success
glynne419 August 2014
This movie is filled with the joys and sorrows that accompany a full life. The acting is excellent. I could not fault a single actor. Even those delivering one liners seemed divested in the story. The photography and music are spectacular. A. R. Rahman showed even more depth and diversity than usual in his deep and varied score, and I kept wishing that I could freeze frame some of the amazing shots from the film so that I could take them home to use as inspiration for a painting. Plus, food has never looked more yummy! The story is touching and kept my interest from beginning to end. The messages contained within are subtle but definitely there, and they are positive and uplifting, which is a welcome change in today's challenging world. I fell in love with it all! Kudos! Kudos! Kudos to all!
Hundred Foot Journey is fabulous
jorieware8 August 2014
This movie is well-constructed, beautifully filmed, and rich in diversity. The story is poignant and heartwarming. Its a wonderful movie especially if you enjoy cooking movies. The critic in our local newspaper gave the film two stars out of 5, saying it was slow and too schmaltzy. A bit schmaltzy maybe, but who doesn't like a good love story centered around food. The characters were perfect and seeing Charlotte Le Bon for the first time was breathtaking. Helen Mirren was her normal fabulous self. the Indian cast was excellent. Besides Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey do not invest or make 2 star movies. We plan to see this movie again since the writing was so good we may have missed something.
lovely
Kirpianuscus8 January 2019
I do know the adapted book. But the film is obvious a delight. Sure, the temptation of critic is not small but the basic virtue of film is to be lovely. Not convincing, not complex. Just lovely. And it has few atu who are more than significant, from the performances to the flavors escaping from screen. It has, in same measure , a seductive "spice" - the meet between Hellen Mirren and Om Puri. Short, it represents a real delight. The photography is one of proofs.
Lacks subtlety
Deux_Vega2 September 2020
It's a well made movie. It really brings that warm romantic flair that fits the movie. But the dialogs and characters are quite uninspiring and the story line is quite predictable. It's all laid on too thick in terms of romantic, fuzzy, warm feeling and it's overloaded with clichés. There's no subtlety or layers in the characters and their dialogues. Which really is a shame, because the potential was there to be a great movie. Also I felt that Hassan had trouble carrying the movie. Yes he has puppy eyes, but his acting was quite mediocre.
So all in all it sound like a lot of critique, but it's only because the rest was so well done it deserved more. It's just that very simple but warm and cosy romantic movie for on a lazy Sunday but it just lacks any complexity to be more than that. So, just a 6.5 which on imdb. I'll go for 7 then, because after a few 'oh yeah, really?' cliché annoyances it somewhere halfway did bring me to France and their situation. It's enough to give me a warm and somewhat satisfying feeling.
So all in all it sound like a lot of critique, but it's only because the rest was so well done it deserved more. It's just that very simple but warm and cosy romantic movie for on a lazy Sunday but it just lacks any complexity to be more than that. So, just a 6.5 which on imdb. I'll go for 7 then, because after a few 'oh yeah, really?' cliché annoyances it somewhere halfway did bring me to France and their situation. It's enough to give me a warm and somewhat satisfying feeling.
I wanted to eat on both sides of the street
pefrss8 August 2014
The only thing which bothered me a little bit about this movie was that the restaurant owner of a French restaurant somewhere in the countryside is played by an English actress. And I love Helen Mirren. There are some weird language situations which do not make sense. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this little comedy about two of my favorite foods. I could not decide on which side of the street I wanted to eat.
As a senior citizen myself I am always happy when a movie is carried by people my age. And boy do Helen Mirren and Om Puri carry this movie. If you want to spend pleasant two hours in the company of entertaining people and pictures of delicious food, you will have a good time seeing this movie.
As a senior citizen myself I am always happy when a movie is carried by people my age. And boy do Helen Mirren and Om Puri carry this movie. If you want to spend pleasant two hours in the company of entertaining people and pictures of delicious food, you will have a good time seeing this movie.
Predictable but eminently stress-relieving film... but where are the subtitles?
bob-the-movie-man10 September 2014
The Hundred-Foot Journey is based on the novel by Richard C. Morais. It tells the story of the combative relationship between an Indian family, headed by 'Papa' (Om Puri), who opens a traditional Indian restaurant called "La Maison Mumbai" in a rural French village directly opposite the Michelin 1-star restaurant run by the fanatically focused Madame Mallory. Given the proximity of the two establishments - and ignoring the fact that the "100 feet" should be "30.42 metres" - conflict on both a commercial, class and racial basis is inevitable.
Against the odds (the French, after all, are not famous for liking curries) the new business is successful thanks largely to the culinary talents of Papa's prodigal son Hassan (Manish Dayal). Love interest for Hassan appears in the form of Marguerite (the charming Charlotte Le Bon); one of Madame Mallory's sous chefs.
Will the Indian restaurant survive? Will the icy Madame Mallory thaw? Will Hassan and the recently widowed 'Papa' find love and happiness? Will Madame Mallory gain the long sought after second Michelin star?
This is a perfectly pleasant film, which will probably be loved by older cinema-goers whose complaint is "they don't make them like that anymore". Well they do, and this is it. And there's nothing wrong with that. If you enjoyed "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", then I predict that you will also enjoy this film. A gentle tale, gently told, with co-producers including Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey.
Most of the acting is good, with Puri and Mirran both playing off against each other well. Puri has a long and distinguished career in Indian cinema dating back to the mid-70's, but has had a few parts in western films including "Charlie Wilson's War" and "West is West". Mirran plays haughty and aloof very well.
The music score from A.H. Rahman is atmospheric and fitting and a particular strength of the film is the cinematography of the French countryside by Linus Sandgren ("American Hustle") which is lush and seductive.
But I have two main criticisms of the picture.
Firstly, the screenplay by Steven Knight is so linear you could make a spirit level from it. I haven't read the novel to see if this is true to the book, but - aside from a traumatic event in the opening minutes - there is nothing surprising to be found in the story. This is not meant to be a spoiler, but everything you expect to happen does!
Secondly, and a much more irritating failure, is in the use of language in the film. The majority of the speech is in English throughout, with Helen Mirran - who I understand speaks pretty good French - adopting a Franglaise accent. I heard an interview with her recently where she confessed to wanting to speak the film in French and use subtitles, but this was rejected by the studios on the grounds that 'Americans don't like sub-titled films'. (If true, this seems highly disparaging towards the intelligence of the sort of US filmgoers that would go to see this type of film). In my opinion if all the french scenes had been in french and the Hindi scenes in Hindi, with a common language of English used for the cross-culture communications, the film would have been so much more convincing. As it was, the conflict generated one of the most ridiculous lines of dialogue in a 2014 film so far: Madame Mallory chastising her head chef for reciting the words of 'La Marseillaise' in french in front of her 100% french employees - "Now again, in English, so we can all understand"!
Directed by Lasse Hallström ("Chocolat", "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen") this is a pleasant, un-challenging and stress-relieving way to spend two hours in the cinema. However, make sure you go in well fed else you will get very very hungry!
(If you enjoyed this review please see my library of other reviews at bob-the-movie-man.com and sign up to "Follow the Fad". Thanks).
Against the odds (the French, after all, are not famous for liking curries) the new business is successful thanks largely to the culinary talents of Papa's prodigal son Hassan (Manish Dayal). Love interest for Hassan appears in the form of Marguerite (the charming Charlotte Le Bon); one of Madame Mallory's sous chefs.
Will the Indian restaurant survive? Will the icy Madame Mallory thaw? Will Hassan and the recently widowed 'Papa' find love and happiness? Will Madame Mallory gain the long sought after second Michelin star?
This is a perfectly pleasant film, which will probably be loved by older cinema-goers whose complaint is "they don't make them like that anymore". Well they do, and this is it. And there's nothing wrong with that. If you enjoyed "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", then I predict that you will also enjoy this film. A gentle tale, gently told, with co-producers including Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey.
Most of the acting is good, with Puri and Mirran both playing off against each other well. Puri has a long and distinguished career in Indian cinema dating back to the mid-70's, but has had a few parts in western films including "Charlie Wilson's War" and "West is West". Mirran plays haughty and aloof very well.
The music score from A.H. Rahman is atmospheric and fitting and a particular strength of the film is the cinematography of the French countryside by Linus Sandgren ("American Hustle") which is lush and seductive.
But I have two main criticisms of the picture.
Firstly, the screenplay by Steven Knight is so linear you could make a spirit level from it. I haven't read the novel to see if this is true to the book, but - aside from a traumatic event in the opening minutes - there is nothing surprising to be found in the story. This is not meant to be a spoiler, but everything you expect to happen does!
Secondly, and a much more irritating failure, is in the use of language in the film. The majority of the speech is in English throughout, with Helen Mirran - who I understand speaks pretty good French - adopting a Franglaise accent. I heard an interview with her recently where she confessed to wanting to speak the film in French and use subtitles, but this was rejected by the studios on the grounds that 'Americans don't like sub-titled films'. (If true, this seems highly disparaging towards the intelligence of the sort of US filmgoers that would go to see this type of film). In my opinion if all the french scenes had been in french and the Hindi scenes in Hindi, with a common language of English used for the cross-culture communications, the film would have been so much more convincing. As it was, the conflict generated one of the most ridiculous lines of dialogue in a 2014 film so far: Madame Mallory chastising her head chef for reciting the words of 'La Marseillaise' in french in front of her 100% french employees - "Now again, in English, so we can all understand"!
Directed by Lasse Hallström ("Chocolat", "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen") this is a pleasant, un-challenging and stress-relieving way to spend two hours in the cinema. However, make sure you go in well fed else you will get very very hungry!
(If you enjoyed this review please see my library of other reviews at bob-the-movie-man.com and sign up to "Follow the Fad". Thanks).
love Om Puri
SnoopyStyle23 May 2015
The Kadam family is a family of cooks in Mumbai. They escape political turmoil to London as refugees. However the vegetables there has no soul and they set off to find better ingredients. Their brakes fail near the small town of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val and Papa Kadam sees it as a sign from his dead wife. He insists on buying the abandoned restaurant directly across the road from Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren)'s Michelin Star restaurant. His son Hassan falls for Mallory's sous chef Marguerite.
I love Om Puri as the father. I love that the family is embarrassed by his determination. Helen Mirren is fine as this character and I'm glad that she gets some depth later on in the movie. Manish Dayal is good. Charlotte Le Bon is rather bland although she's very pretty. There is a bit of food porn which is good. However director Lasse Hallström may have directed one too many Nicholas Sparks movie because that style and sensibility does infect this slightly. With Om Puri and Helen Mirren leading the way, this is lovely and inoffensive movie.
I love Om Puri as the father. I love that the family is embarrassed by his determination. Helen Mirren is fine as this character and I'm glad that she gets some depth later on in the movie. Manish Dayal is good. Charlotte Le Bon is rather bland although she's very pretty. There is a bit of food porn which is good. However director Lasse Hallström may have directed one too many Nicholas Sparks movie because that style and sensibility does infect this slightly. With Om Puri and Helen Mirren leading the way, this is lovely and inoffensive movie.
Hollywood - Bollywood Fusion Cooked to Perfection
nishp200415 August 2014
The movie is titled "A Hundred Foot Journey", and it's not just the protagonists in the movie who will embark on a journey, but so will you, the moviegoer. You will laugh, you will smile, you will wonder, and you will be immersed in the surroundings of a picturesque small town in the mountains of France where two beautiful (and delicious!) cultures clash, mingle, and eventually harmonize. In short, you will view a Hollywood – Bollywood fusion that is done so well that you will ask for more.
The movie weaves in light-hearted humor throughout, yet honestly depicts the awkwardness and tension between the newly arrived Indian family and the local French townspeople. The struggles faced by the Indian diaspora, so prevalent in Bollywood today, is explored with sincerity and comedy. Helen Mirren was great, but for me the star was Om Puri, who pulled off the role of an immigrant father to perfection. Having grown up with an Indian father abroad, I know that the struggle of adjusting to a new country while holding dearly to your values and culture is not an easy one, and often results in a complicated mix of motives, values and ideals in those individuals. Yet Om Puri strikes a perfect note. His lines are probably the most memorable in the movie.
To summarize, the movie is a must watch!
The movie weaves in light-hearted humor throughout, yet honestly depicts the awkwardness and tension between the newly arrived Indian family and the local French townspeople. The struggles faced by the Indian diaspora, so prevalent in Bollywood today, is explored with sincerity and comedy. Helen Mirren was great, but for me the star was Om Puri, who pulled off the role of an immigrant father to perfection. Having grown up with an Indian father abroad, I know that the struggle of adjusting to a new country while holding dearly to your values and culture is not an easy one, and often results in a complicated mix of motives, values and ideals in those individuals. Yet Om Puri strikes a perfect note. His lines are probably the most memorable in the movie.
To summarize, the movie is a must watch!
A lovely feel good movie
paulsamuel-4817725 April 2020
This movie was a good family entertainer. The location, ambience, good portrayal of every character and above all the food, made this movie a worth watch. Loved the portrayal of Helen mirren and Ompuri. Music plays a vital part, which elevated the movie.
Just felt a bit dragged towards the climax, especially when the story moves away from the small beautiful town and goes towards Paris.
But overall a perfect feel good movie which could be watched during a rainy noon.
Among the most refreshing movie of recent times
dnbonthenet8 August 2014
When I first noticed the ratings on IMDb, my expectations before watching the movie were substantially toned down. I went to the movie with a rather unassuming frame of mind, hoping something good would come out of from the two hours I planned to spend.
But, I must say that ratings do not hand down the justice the movie deserves. The story is set in south France, and narrates a clash of two beautiful cultures via its respective culinary grandeur. Further embellished into the story line are two very beautiful actors. Overall, the movie leaves a very refreshing taste in the end. The entire movie has a very subtle and harmonious tone, with no significant ups or downs, clash or surprises. Its a very easy to watch, light movie that can be enjoyed with the entire family.
I feel this movie presents an excellent characterization of the type of globalization our society has come to bear. Unfortunately, as embodied by the reviews and ratings, it appears the western audience is not yet ready to embrace a non-western, non-Caucasian actors. I hope this changes soon.
But, I must say that ratings do not hand down the justice the movie deserves. The story is set in south France, and narrates a clash of two beautiful cultures via its respective culinary grandeur. Further embellished into the story line are two very beautiful actors. Overall, the movie leaves a very refreshing taste in the end. The entire movie has a very subtle and harmonious tone, with no significant ups or downs, clash or surprises. Its a very easy to watch, light movie that can be enjoyed with the entire family.
I feel this movie presents an excellent characterization of the type of globalization our society has come to bear. Unfortunately, as embodied by the reviews and ratings, it appears the western audience is not yet ready to embrace a non-western, non-Caucasian actors. I hope this changes soon.
Feelgood watchable movie, but shallow
arcdanku12 December 2014
This movie was definitely enjoyable, it is a very lighthearted happily ever after movie. It is fast paced, and generally well-acted. However, there are so many fairy tale aspects to it that I couldn't take it anything more than feelgood but forgettable. Among the things that stretches credulity: the Indian family was supposed to have lost everything, but seems to have plenty of money to travel around in France and buy property. The romance between Hassan and Margeurite is so forced as to be laughable, especially an attractive French girl being single, unattached, almost virginal throughout the movie (never does she have a male companion until Hassan comes & then she's all over him!) Also, let's be realistic, this is 2014, Indian spices and cooking is not that exotic in Europe, and just the addition of spices won't make someone a top chef in record time. So yes, there are a lot of areas which are fairy-tale like, but still there's a lighthearted charm that kept me watching the whole movie without feeling it was too shallow.
Flawed painting, no soul
siderite23 December 2014
You know when small children paint something it is usually a collection of people and items that caught their eye, something without much sense, but it looks kind of flashy. This film is exactly like that: a movie about passion in cooking, a clash of cultures, romance, all in the beautiful French country side and starring Helen Mirren. But the movie has no soul. It doesn't teach anything, it doesn't make the viewer empathize with any of the characters and everything that is happening seems to be cut and paste scenes from successful movies in the past.
I would have called a movie like that average, after all there are a lot of formulaic films that work because their recipe works. If nothing is added to the formula, but the movie still entertains, then it is average. However this film failed in a really bad way to make me feel anything about its main subjects: food and romance. The romance was clumsy and hard to believe and at no time I was inspired by any of the food ideas in the film. And I am a sucker for food movies!
Bottom line: just mixing together functional bits from other films doesn't a movie make. If you pay an actress like Mirren to play in your movie and make the effort to do nice shots of rural France and fresh food and all that, at least write a script yourself. This movie failed miserably to make me feel anything but boredom.
I would have called a movie like that average, after all there are a lot of formulaic films that work because their recipe works. If nothing is added to the formula, but the movie still entertains, then it is average. However this film failed in a really bad way to make me feel anything about its main subjects: food and romance. The romance was clumsy and hard to believe and at no time I was inspired by any of the food ideas in the film. And I am a sucker for food movies!
Bottom line: just mixing together functional bits from other films doesn't a movie make. If you pay an actress like Mirren to play in your movie and make the effort to do nice shots of rural France and fresh food and all that, at least write a script yourself. This movie failed miserably to make me feel anything but boredom.
A wonderful movie with a wonderful message.
sohom41610 August 2014
When this movie was announced, I was honestly just going to watch because of Om Puri. However, the plot of the movie is so well written, Om Puri was just a extra bonus. This movie has humor that just comes out naturally, but it also shows lots of emotions. This movie hit me home and I am pretty sure it will hit home to others as well. The casting is very well picked and I really enjoyed this film with my family. It is one of those movies you can watch with your family, and just relax and enjoy. There were some plot holes and other things you might find odd, but the whole movie as a whole was well made. A R Rahman also never disappoints with the movie score.
Verdict: Well Written, Well Made, Enjoyable film. For foodies and the families of anyone.
Verdict: Well Written, Well Made, Enjoyable film. For foodies and the families of anyone.
A Truffle Undercooked
jadepietro11 August 2014
The film is recommended.
Alright, call me jaded when it comes to romance! A group of friends and I recently went to see Lasse Hallstrom's The Hundred Foot Journey. They loved it. I, on the other hand, found it passable but bland. The conventional storytelling lacked any real surprises and the film rigidly follows the recipe for crowd-pleasing entertainment, especially for the elderly Marigold Hotel set.
The simple plot pits the class war struggle between two restaurateurs; a snotty French aristocrat,the ever-so-talented Helen Mirren, and an irascible Indian type, played by Om Puri, commonly known as Papa. Papa sets up shop just across the street, a hundred feet to be exact, from Madame Mallory. Of course, there is immediate conflict and xenophobia also sets in. Let the food wars promptly begin.
Also added to the mix are two younger chefs, Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon), loyal sous chef to Madame M., and Hassan (Manish Dayal), son of Papa, whose love for food will be outweigh by their love for love by the final reel. Nothing new here. Nothing remotely exciting either. Both actors are charming in their roles.
The various culinary results certainly look sumptuous. In fact, the parade of colorful foods and dinner servings continually upstages most of the characters and the entire predictability of the film. Yet The Hundred Foot Journey remains entertaining, mostly due to its engaging cast, some clever dialog, and Hallstrom's gift for direction. The director knows how to make a well-crafted film. He can make the most mundane seem interesting, as he does here.
With its screenplay written by Steven Knight that is slightly malnourished and in search of some needed garnishments to hide its lack of originality, The Hundred Foot Journey is still satisfactory fare. Diverting and pleasing. It's just not all that filling. GRADE: B
Visit my blog at: www.dearmoviegoer.com
ANY COMMENTS: Please contact me at: jadepietro@rcn.com
Alright, call me jaded when it comes to romance! A group of friends and I recently went to see Lasse Hallstrom's The Hundred Foot Journey. They loved it. I, on the other hand, found it passable but bland. The conventional storytelling lacked any real surprises and the film rigidly follows the recipe for crowd-pleasing entertainment, especially for the elderly Marigold Hotel set.
The simple plot pits the class war struggle between two restaurateurs; a snotty French aristocrat,the ever-so-talented Helen Mirren, and an irascible Indian type, played by Om Puri, commonly known as Papa. Papa sets up shop just across the street, a hundred feet to be exact, from Madame Mallory. Of course, there is immediate conflict and xenophobia also sets in. Let the food wars promptly begin.
Also added to the mix are two younger chefs, Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon), loyal sous chef to Madame M., and Hassan (Manish Dayal), son of Papa, whose love for food will be outweigh by their love for love by the final reel. Nothing new here. Nothing remotely exciting either. Both actors are charming in their roles.
The various culinary results certainly look sumptuous. In fact, the parade of colorful foods and dinner servings continually upstages most of the characters and the entire predictability of the film. Yet The Hundred Foot Journey remains entertaining, mostly due to its engaging cast, some clever dialog, and Hallstrom's gift for direction. The director knows how to make a well-crafted film. He can make the most mundane seem interesting, as he does here.
With its screenplay written by Steven Knight that is slightly malnourished and in search of some needed garnishments to hide its lack of originality, The Hundred Foot Journey is still satisfactory fare. Diverting and pleasing. It's just not all that filling. GRADE: B
Visit my blog at: www.dearmoviegoer.com
ANY COMMENTS: Please contact me at: jadepietro@rcn.com
Simple, yet much better a tale than most films.
sushant040614 August 2014
I had not planned to watch this movie. It was just out of pure boredom that I opened my local newspaper to check for the list of movie shows in the next hour and decided to go for it. There was a show of The Hundred- Foot Journey and am I glad that I went to watch it.
The director was able to successfully depict the initial struggle of an Indian family, that has moved to France, after losing their matriarch to the fires of the local riots; their belligerent yet funny competition and subsequent truce with the owner of a local and famous restaurant right opposite theirs; and finally nurturing the talent of the Indian boy who had a gift of cooking by the very same French lady and his rise to stardom .
The film also has a touching moment that all the people staying away from their loved ones must have felt in their lives. Actor Manish Dayal did a splendid role in that scene and gave a good performance,overall. The trio of Om Puri, Helen Mirren and Charlotte Le Bon did a splendid job and kept me laughing(Puri and Mirren to be specific) and intrigued the whole time. Not a moment of boredom.
Charlote Le Bon is not only an ocean of talent, but, is insanely gorgeous. Looking forward to seeing her in more movies.
The director was able to successfully depict the initial struggle of an Indian family, that has moved to France, after losing their matriarch to the fires of the local riots; their belligerent yet funny competition and subsequent truce with the owner of a local and famous restaurant right opposite theirs; and finally nurturing the talent of the Indian boy who had a gift of cooking by the very same French lady and his rise to stardom .
The film also has a touching moment that all the people staying away from their loved ones must have felt in their lives. Actor Manish Dayal did a splendid role in that scene and gave a good performance,overall. The trio of Om Puri, Helen Mirren and Charlotte Le Bon did a splendid job and kept me laughing(Puri and Mirren to be specific) and intrigued the whole time. Not a moment of boredom.
Charlote Le Bon is not only an ocean of talent, but, is insanely gorgeous. Looking forward to seeing her in more movies.
A must see
dmaire1221-222-445159 August 2014
Helen Mirren and Om Puri, Manish Dayal, worked so well on the screen together . It was a treat to watch and with all the big name movies out the same week it was definitely a treasure . The casting and the writing and directing was perfect . It was well worth the ticket watching it in the show . If you make it out to the theater in the next few weeks here is one treat I can promise you wont be disappointed in . The storyline works along with the cast making it come to life . It has all you need to feel good , comedy, drama , and a good ending . So if you are looking for something this weekend for something new and different this is it .
No surprises but a lovely movie
juneebuggy27 October 2019
This was fine, enjoyable with great locations, nicely shot, good story, fantastic acting from Om Ouri , Helen Mirren and Manish Dayal. It just didn't move me in any way and I felt indifferent about the movie as a whole although there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.
The plot follows the Kadam family who leave India for France where they open a restaurant directly across the road from Madame Mallory's Michelin-starred eatery. The teenage son finds work with his dad's culinary enemy and with a war between the two eateries brewing he merges French and Indian cuisine with delicious results. There is a bit of romance here but no surprises plot wise. Just a nice feel good movie.
The plot follows the Kadam family who leave India for France where they open a restaurant directly across the road from Madame Mallory's Michelin-starred eatery. The teenage son finds work with his dad's culinary enemy and with a war between the two eateries brewing he merges French and Indian cuisine with delicious results. There is a bit of romance here but no surprises plot wise. Just a nice feel good movie.
the 100 foot journey
robertverrege9 August 2014
The famous director, Lasse Hallstrom has done it again,creating this masterpiece. A delight that will please all the senses with a backdrop of Southern France thrown in for eye candy. Talented, respected, British star Mirren is at her best showing her uncanny ability in artfully playing a French woman with impeccable taste, in this funny but moving romance of haute-cuisine. The ensemble Bollywood cast with star Om Puri and fresh new faces of handsome Manish Dayal and beautiful Canadian Charlotte La Bon are added to this charming film based on love, food, marketing, cultural differences and acceptance. Mirren shows us she is a worthy match with American Merle Streep in their quest for challenging roles. With Spielberg and Winfrey behind this project is it any wonder it could be anything less than a success? Surely one of 2014's "must see" films.
A Warm Dish Missing a Dash of Spice
VickiHopkins10 August 2014
This past week, I went to see The Hundred-Foot Journey with a friend of mine. I ordered my usual small bag of popcorn and small drink costing me a total of $10.05, plus my $7.75 ticket price for the 1:45 p.m. show. It's easy to equate the value of a movie based on what I've paid for refreshments and a ticket. Since this was a whopping $17.80 excursion, The Hundred Foot-Journey was worth about $7.50 in my opinion.
I'm not saying the movie doesn't have some good qualities, which it does. The story focuses upon a family from Mumbai, who have suffered loss and are looking for a new life. They are restauranteurs and cooks. After losing their establishment and a family member, they travel from India to London. Eventually, they move to France, complaining about the quality of vegetables in the U.K. While traipsing about the countryside looking for a place to live, the brakes on their car fail. The head of the family, Papa Kadam, takes it as a sign that the nearby town is the place to live. Papa decides to purchase a run-down restaurant one hundred feet across the street from Madame Mallory's famous French restaurant, in spite of his family's objection.
The movie is about a clash of not only cuisine, but one of of ethnicity between people. Madame Mallory is not pleased with her new neighbor, who upon opening night raises the Maison Mumbai's bright Taj Mahal entrance. A tit-for-tat battle ensues between Madame Mallory and Papa Kadam, which leads to an unfortunate incident of an attack upon the Kadam family restaurant.
Manish Dayal plays Hassan, the son who has a gift for cooking. Eventually, Madame Mallory admits that he is talented and agrees to hire him at her restaurant to further his career. A peaceful co-existence between the madame and papa ensues as the two of them begin to learn and accept each other in spite of their ethic differences.
The premise of the story is a good one with a theme of co-existence and acceptance of others unlike yourself. It also contains the elements of competition, of course, when each party has their own goals. Madame Mallory seeks another star for her restaurant, Papa a new life for his family, and Hassan the chance to become a renowned chef. However, somewhere during the movie, I found it bland. The film lacked a certain spice. It was intellectually tasteful, but the heartfelt emotion you expect from the story felt like a lukewarm plate of food.
Helen Mirren, who is never bad in anything she does, made Madame Mallory's character. Along with Om Puri, who played papa, they delivered a good mix of banter. There is a side element of romance between Hassan and another cook hundred feet across the street, but nothing like a spicy dish of Indian food.
I'm not saying the movie doesn't have some good qualities, which it does. The story focuses upon a family from Mumbai, who have suffered loss and are looking for a new life. They are restauranteurs and cooks. After losing their establishment and a family member, they travel from India to London. Eventually, they move to France, complaining about the quality of vegetables in the U.K. While traipsing about the countryside looking for a place to live, the brakes on their car fail. The head of the family, Papa Kadam, takes it as a sign that the nearby town is the place to live. Papa decides to purchase a run-down restaurant one hundred feet across the street from Madame Mallory's famous French restaurant, in spite of his family's objection.
The movie is about a clash of not only cuisine, but one of of ethnicity between people. Madame Mallory is not pleased with her new neighbor, who upon opening night raises the Maison Mumbai's bright Taj Mahal entrance. A tit-for-tat battle ensues between Madame Mallory and Papa Kadam, which leads to an unfortunate incident of an attack upon the Kadam family restaurant.
Manish Dayal plays Hassan, the son who has a gift for cooking. Eventually, Madame Mallory admits that he is talented and agrees to hire him at her restaurant to further his career. A peaceful co-existence between the madame and papa ensues as the two of them begin to learn and accept each other in spite of their ethic differences.
The premise of the story is a good one with a theme of co-existence and acceptance of others unlike yourself. It also contains the elements of competition, of course, when each party has their own goals. Madame Mallory seeks another star for her restaurant, Papa a new life for his family, and Hassan the chance to become a renowned chef. However, somewhere during the movie, I found it bland. The film lacked a certain spice. It was intellectually tasteful, but the heartfelt emotion you expect from the story felt like a lukewarm plate of food.
Helen Mirren, who is never bad in anything she does, made Madame Mallory's character. Along with Om Puri, who played papa, they delivered a good mix of banter. There is a side element of romance between Hassan and another cook hundred feet across the street, but nothing like a spicy dish of Indian food.
Cliché a La Mode with Topping of Schmaltz
taylor_king-890-81549116 August 2014
This banal film lacks all the ingredients of a good movie. Its' tragic beginning in India quickly descends into fairy tale mode, with one scene after the other featuring cliché dialogue, events and musical background. Instead of developing the underlying culture clash storyline, the producers choose to make commercial soup which never rises above the superficial. Their recipe? A pretty French town with some computer-generated background, mixed with a few long shots of fireworks and the Eiffel Tower, and throw in a gazillion mind-numbing close-ups of food preparation and drizzled dishes, and voila! You have zee movie! I'm not mentioning the actors because it's not about acting, it's about stereotypes of egotistical chefs, snotty French people, and hard-bargaining Daddies from India. And amazingly, this movie is only half-baked after 2+ hours, by which time, the audience is dozing and wondering, "why didn't I just stay home and watch the Food Channel?"
Sweet story of family, food and discovery
gavinp92 January 2018
'The Hundred-Foot Journey' was a little like 'Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' for me - I had quite low expectations as I thought it was going to be an "old lady movie". Thankfully, I was proven wrong and instead was treated to a nice little film about following your dreams.
The premise is simple - an Indian family move to London, get sick of the cold/rain (who wouldn't!) and travel to continental Europe to find a new place to settle and start a restaurant. This place happens to be a picturesque little village in Southern France - however, their new restaurant happens to be next to a Michelin-rated French restaurant, and a rivalry ensues.
The performances from Puri as the Dad and Mirren as the French restaurant owner are great and quite nuanced, with Hassan (Daval) and Marguerite (the huge-eyed Le Bon) playing the young love interests/competing chefs. It's great to see how their friendship evolves as Hassan goes on his food journey. Some parts of this feel like a cooking show, but not enough to put you off. It has funny moments, touching moments and a nice ending - plenty of messages about openness and accepting other cultures, and generally giving something/someone a chance.
The premise is simple - an Indian family move to London, get sick of the cold/rain (who wouldn't!) and travel to continental Europe to find a new place to settle and start a restaurant. This place happens to be a picturesque little village in Southern France - however, their new restaurant happens to be next to a Michelin-rated French restaurant, and a rivalry ensues.
The performances from Puri as the Dad and Mirren as the French restaurant owner are great and quite nuanced, with Hassan (Daval) and Marguerite (the huge-eyed Le Bon) playing the young love interests/competing chefs. It's great to see how their friendship evolves as Hassan goes on his food journey. Some parts of this feel like a cooking show, but not enough to put you off. It has funny moments, touching moments and a nice ending - plenty of messages about openness and accepting other cultures, and generally giving something/someone a chance.
A fabulous, easy going classic.
Sleepin_Dragon12 April 2023
Having escaped persecution in India, The Kadam family travel from London to France, when they break down in a small, rural village, they spot an opportunity to open a restaurant, the only snag being there's one directly opposite, a good one.
This is one of those films that you simply cannot help but get lost in, it's a quite enchanting watch, it's light hearted, it may lack some of the complexity that some enjoy, but when you simply need something that's easy to watch, this film is a huge success.
This film is loaded with flavours, and I don't just mean the food, the mix of music, the cinematography and the glorious visuals, it's a treat for all of the senses.
It deals with love, loss, longing, it is loaded with messages, one theme is clear, a desire for fulfillment.
The acting is sensational, the combination of Helen Mirren and Om Puri is first rate, they are phenomenal together.
Sometimes I wondered why Mallory was speaking in English, and sometimes in French, it was curious, that's my only gripe.
Enchanting, 10/10.
This is one of those films that you simply cannot help but get lost in, it's a quite enchanting watch, it's light hearted, it may lack some of the complexity that some enjoy, but when you simply need something that's easy to watch, this film is a huge success.
This film is loaded with flavours, and I don't just mean the food, the mix of music, the cinematography and the glorious visuals, it's a treat for all of the senses.
It deals with love, loss, longing, it is loaded with messages, one theme is clear, a desire for fulfillment.
The acting is sensational, the combination of Helen Mirren and Om Puri is first rate, they are phenomenal together.
Sometimes I wondered why Mallory was speaking in English, and sometimes in French, it was curious, that's my only gripe.
Enchanting, 10/10.
Just like my souffles, flat with no consistency.....
Legal_eagle8212 January 2015
I watched this film without knowing anything about it at all. I had no expectations, and even if I did, I really don't think it would have made a difference. I give it a 6 because above all else, it secured my attention to the end and the acting, aside from Helen Mirren's French accent, was pretty good....But aside from that I found it to be hollow and trying too hard...I did not believe in the love story at the centre of this film to any extent at all, and felt it just fell flat. The other love story between people which comes to light near the end fell even flatter in my opinion. And the only love affair I actually believed in, was the love affair between Hassan and food/cooking. So I guess on that level, the film didn't fail....but having seen Chef(2014) and giving that an 8(7.5 if halves were allowed), this was disappointing....Oh, one thing that annoyed me, if you're doing a film set in France, do the English with French accents all the way through, or get French-speaking actors and do it in French, don't have a mixture of the two. But above all else don't have two apparently French-speaking characters speaking English to each other with a French accent when there are French characters within the film that do speak French to each other.....It makes no sense....
Nicely cooked..
jay_ymid13 August 2014
The hundred foot journey
A fabulous meal is incomplete without a word of compliment to the chef. The fine dining etiquettes might not mention anything about the compliments to the chef. But a fabulous meal is the one which serves the correct amount of flavors satisfying your soul. And when a soul is satisfied you praise..
Such a meal is served when you see the movie, 'the hundred foot journey'. And so is the flavor correctly served at all times throughout the movie that it binds you through all five courses of your meal. The actors Om puri and Helen do a fabulous job by providing that correct masala to the french cheesy love story of Hassan and Marguerite.
The film is beautifully shot with good writing. Overall the movie is a good watch for audience willing to watch something different than normal tadka films being served to them.
A fabulous meal is incomplete without a word of compliment to the chef. The fine dining etiquettes might not mention anything about the compliments to the chef. But a fabulous meal is the one which serves the correct amount of flavors satisfying your soul. And when a soul is satisfied you praise..
Such a meal is served when you see the movie, 'the hundred foot journey'. And so is the flavor correctly served at all times throughout the movie that it binds you through all five courses of your meal. The actors Om puri and Helen do a fabulous job by providing that correct masala to the french cheesy love story of Hassan and Marguerite.
The film is beautifully shot with good writing. Overall the movie is a good watch for audience willing to watch something different than normal tadka films being served to them.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
