I fail to understand the cult of the celebrity chef: I find the likes of Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey thoroughly obnoxious and the importance that has been placed on their unexceptional vocation an insult to the average hardworking Joe who toils away in obscurity.
Almost as perplexing as the popularity of these irritating, over-exposed and overpaid cooks is the number of positive comments for Stephen Chow's The God of Cookery (the majority of which seem to have come from Western viewers!). I've seen more than my fair share of wacky Hong Kong movies, but the succession of crass toilet gags, wacky facial contortions, childish slapstick, and oddball zaniness left me stony faced and frequently scratching my head in confusion. Quite what everyone else found so irresistible about this film is a mystery to me.
Maybe The God of Cookery is an acquired taste, repeated viewings revealing hitherto undiscovered subtle flavours, but to be honest, I doubt it and am in no hurry to find out. I think I've lost my appetite for HK comedy for the time being.
3.5 out of 10, generously rounded up to 4 for IMDb.
Almost as perplexing as the popularity of these irritating, over-exposed and overpaid cooks is the number of positive comments for Stephen Chow's The God of Cookery (the majority of which seem to have come from Western viewers!). I've seen more than my fair share of wacky Hong Kong movies, but the succession of crass toilet gags, wacky facial contortions, childish slapstick, and oddball zaniness left me stony faced and frequently scratching my head in confusion. Quite what everyone else found so irresistible about this film is a mystery to me.
Maybe The God of Cookery is an acquired taste, repeated viewings revealing hitherto undiscovered subtle flavours, but to be honest, I doubt it and am in no hurry to find out. I think I've lost my appetite for HK comedy for the time being.
3.5 out of 10, generously rounded up to 4 for IMDb.