If you live in the U.S., you probably didn't get to see this movie until after encountering at least one of director Stephen Chow's newer, heavily CGI'd extravaganzas such as Shaolin Soccer or Kung Fu Hustle, which right off may damage the experience for those going in expecting more of the same manically paced action, and Hollywood-grade production values. God of Cookery is considerably older than either of his better known U.S. releases, which means that not only are effects scaled down more than a little, Chow's directing skills are clearly lacking the same polish he exhibits in later films. All that having been said, God of Cookery should still be considered required viewing for anyone who liked either of the above movies, or who has a particular fondness for the Japanese reality-cooking show Iron Chef (the parodic base for the film). Many of Chow's beloved regulars are here, at least in cameo, which will go a long way towards carrying Chow fans through the first and second acts which, although generally funny enough, are a bit plodding for American audiences. Any unrest the first two thirds may have caused, however, will be instantly dispelled in the third act which, not coincidentally, is when Chow's beloved kung-fu finally makes its appearance. The absolute high-light for me was the 88 Brass Men of Shaolin Temple, whose, erm, UNIQUE combat style was one of the funniest things I've seen in any movie, period. The actual God of Cooking competition isn't half bad either, and definitely could be viewed as the immediate precursor to Shaolin Soccer, combining as it does over-the-top kung-fu (and some dandy practical effects, even a couple of early CGI shots) with every aspect of cooking Chow can devise. Ultimately this is a film for the fans, casual viewers may find themselves too lost or bored by act three to hang on for the grand finale, and it's definitely not the kid friendly romp of 'Soccer by a long stretch.
27 Reviews
Movies about nobody
y-2669820 April 2020
The charm of zhou xingchi's works is that, in the ups and downs of the life of small characters, understand the true meaning of success is only one: to do their share of things to the extreme, then you are not far from success.
Sik San
sharky_5525 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Anyone who has seen those reality cooking shows in the vein of Iron Chef will be familiar with their dramatic camera compositions and movements, their exaggerated sound effects and the over-excited running commentary that provides an intensity like a sporting match. In Stephen Chow's The God of Cookery, it takes this spoof to the utter heights of absurdism and then some. In a mock competition under the heavens for the title of God of Cookery itself, Chow dresses as a divine judge who crushes each entrant with the most ridiculous criticisms ever. There is one chef who has even carved a delicate figurine of Buddha out of tofu, but it's declared too cold to eat. And for the crafty final entrant whom has planned ahead for the dismissive God's comments, he finds himself attacked for his ugly looks. This and the moment where the nose-picking cross dresser presents him with flowers are comedic tropes that Chow does not shy away from, and although they may be somewhat low-brow, you can't help but laugh.
Chow has captured the tone of these reality shows very well. His cutting is thick and furious and dramatic, made even funnier by the shocked and gasping reactions from each of the characters involved. The sound effects heighten each blow to their melodramatic high - the whooshes and dings like they are competing in a high stakes game show. When Chow insultingly asks the undercover Bull Tong to prove his loyalty, the scene is shot like with an absurd flourish as he drops his pants, spins around and prepares his roll of toilet paper (which he just so happens to have on hand). The slow-motion and overexposed lighting give each of these scenes a soft, warm glow like a photographer shooting a plate of food for a magazine - only Chow does it with every single ridiculous occasion. And when Bull exposes him for the fraud he is, and demonstrates true cooking ability, it is like he is playing a game of Fruit Ninja...only this was years beforehand, with the exaggerated ingredients flying in motion and the rapid swishes of the knife.
Chow knows how to milk every last scene for all its comedic potential. When he first unveils the new combined super food Pissing Beef Balls, the others are hesitant of its potency, until they try it out for themselves, and the waterfall of juice that erupts like a volcano is shot from a flurry of different angles and the eater gets consumed by a prancing daydream. This precedent is then extended as each new customer tries them out to hilarious effect. These are people who take their food seriously - no doubt evident by the gang warfare trope that is seamlessly and super seriously applied here (and there is even a The Usual Suspects reference in the mock-up line). The villains will do anything to stop Chow - even arrange his restaurant branch locations to spell die - something that is then reversed upon them. They've even bribed the judge of the final tournament - played hilariously by Nancy Sit as she gives running commentary to the food fight ("Good folding chair") and then has an orgasmic reaction to a simple char siu and rice. And as Chow nearly always does - there is a kung fu element to the way he glides on top of water and into the building for a late dramatic entrance. Nothing is off limits in God of Cookery - it reminds me of another food comedy, Tampopo, where the culinary arts was treated just as seriously. The main romantic storyline here is perhaps a bit cheesy, lacking the depth of say, Kung Fu Hustle, and the subtitles are iffy at times...but you will never once doubt your laughter.
Chow has captured the tone of these reality shows very well. His cutting is thick and furious and dramatic, made even funnier by the shocked and gasping reactions from each of the characters involved. The sound effects heighten each blow to their melodramatic high - the whooshes and dings like they are competing in a high stakes game show. When Chow insultingly asks the undercover Bull Tong to prove his loyalty, the scene is shot like with an absurd flourish as he drops his pants, spins around and prepares his roll of toilet paper (which he just so happens to have on hand). The slow-motion and overexposed lighting give each of these scenes a soft, warm glow like a photographer shooting a plate of food for a magazine - only Chow does it with every single ridiculous occasion. And when Bull exposes him for the fraud he is, and demonstrates true cooking ability, it is like he is playing a game of Fruit Ninja...only this was years beforehand, with the exaggerated ingredients flying in motion and the rapid swishes of the knife.
Chow knows how to milk every last scene for all its comedic potential. When he first unveils the new combined super food Pissing Beef Balls, the others are hesitant of its potency, until they try it out for themselves, and the waterfall of juice that erupts like a volcano is shot from a flurry of different angles and the eater gets consumed by a prancing daydream. This precedent is then extended as each new customer tries them out to hilarious effect. These are people who take their food seriously - no doubt evident by the gang warfare trope that is seamlessly and super seriously applied here (and there is even a The Usual Suspects reference in the mock-up line). The villains will do anything to stop Chow - even arrange his restaurant branch locations to spell die - something that is then reversed upon them. They've even bribed the judge of the final tournament - played hilariously by Nancy Sit as she gives running commentary to the food fight ("Good folding chair") and then has an orgasmic reaction to a simple char siu and rice. And as Chow nearly always does - there is a kung fu element to the way he glides on top of water and into the building for a late dramatic entrance. Nothing is off limits in God of Cookery - it reminds me of another food comedy, Tampopo, where the culinary arts was treated just as seriously. The main romantic storyline here is perhaps a bit cheesy, lacking the depth of say, Kung Fu Hustle, and the subtitles are iffy at times...but you will never once doubt your laughter.
Very tasty!
Wizard-825 October 2003
I wish an American distributor had picked up this over-the-top Hong Kong comedy, because it may have helped to break down the unfortunate fact that Americans for the most part are still pretty closed to foreign films. Granted, it's far from a conventional comedy, and not easy for advertising to sum up, but I think this could have been at the very least a sleeper hit on these shores had a distributor patiently opened this across the country.
But you should be able to find this in any good Asian movie rental place in your city. You don't have to worry about any cultural differences - much of the humor is of the international slapstick variety, and even some of the cultural references (like Shaolin kung fu) will be understandable. Now there are some kinds of humor that even had me (who's seen much more of Asian cinema than the average humor) mystified, but there was still a wacky edge to them that made them amusing, even if I didn't know exactly what they were referring to.
The movie is a non-stop barrage of laughs. It does get exhausting at times, and the movie starts to get really sloppy towards the end (the final scene felt very unfinished), but you'll still find much more to enjoy here than in your average American comedy. Even if you end up hating it, you won't be able to deny that you've seen NOTHING like this before!
But you should be able to find this in any good Asian movie rental place in your city. You don't have to worry about any cultural differences - much of the humor is of the international slapstick variety, and even some of the cultural references (like Shaolin kung fu) will be understandable. Now there are some kinds of humor that even had me (who's seen much more of Asian cinema than the average humor) mystified, but there was still a wacky edge to them that made them amusing, even if I didn't know exactly what they were referring to.
The movie is a non-stop barrage of laughs. It does get exhausting at times, and the movie starts to get really sloppy towards the end (the final scene felt very unfinished), but you'll still find much more to enjoy here than in your average American comedy. Even if you end up hating it, you won't be able to deny that you've seen NOTHING like this before!
Very Hong Kong style humour
briancham19942 June 2020
This film has a very brash sense of humour that serves Hong Kong audiences well but will alienate other viewers. It features Stephen Chow at his best. The whole thing is outrageous, hilarious and ridiculous. If that's your thing, go right ahead.
Great movie!
inu-213 May 2005
Even though there is some region specific humor in this movie that the subtitles completely glaze over, it is still a fantastic watch because there is plenty of other great humor to enjoy. Any food lover with a good sense of humor or a Honk Kong cinema fan would really enjoy this movie. There is a bit of 'toilet humor' in this movie, so if that offends you, you may want to consider one of Stephen's other movies.
I've watched it at least 6 times myself while showing it to various friends and family members and it's always a good for laugh. This movie contains most of Stephen's standard crew. However, if you are looking for an all-out kung-fu explosion, you might be disappointed with this movie. It definitely has some great moves and some fighting, but the story is fun, engaging and very unique. And you just can't beat the 12 brass monks! No really, you can't beat them... just watch the movie and enjoy. and enjoy. ;)
I've watched it at least 6 times myself while showing it to various friends and family members and it's always a good for laugh. This movie contains most of Stephen's standard crew. However, if you are looking for an all-out kung-fu explosion, you might be disappointed with this movie. It definitely has some great moves and some fighting, but the story is fun, engaging and very unique. And you just can't beat the 12 brass monks! No really, you can't beat them... just watch the movie and enjoy. and enjoy. ;)
Everyone is a god of food
z-5971314 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
If you ask me what kind of movie I like best, I want to talk about comedy. If you ask me whose comedy I like best, I want to talk about Stephen Chow. I should have grown up with Stephen Chow's films. I've seen and liked every one of his films. I know many people like his journey to the West. I also like it, but my favorite is the God of food.
Zhou Xingchi's comedies seem unreasonable. In fact, each one is not only a smile when watching, but also a thought-provoking one after watching. As you grow older, you will know more and more about it.
No matter what kind of character Zhou Xingchi has, in my eyes, he has ushered in a new era of Chinese film comedy. He is a ghost, no matter how exaggerated he is, and he is so natural to show, which makes people feel comfortable. Compared with some of the frivolous performances now, they are always so affectable.
I especially like the saying in "God of food" that "there is no God of food at all, or everyone can be God of food", which is the theme of the film that Zhou Xingchi wants to express: concentrate on doing one thing, and you will make breakthroughs and achievements in this field. Just like his love of actors and movies,.
The God of food is a moving movie with a smile. It talks about human nature, persistence, change and finally understanding.
Zhou Xingchi's comedies seem unreasonable. In fact, each one is not only a smile when watching, but also a thought-provoking one after watching. As you grow older, you will know more and more about it.
No matter what kind of character Zhou Xingchi has, in my eyes, he has ushered in a new era of Chinese film comedy. He is a ghost, no matter how exaggerated he is, and he is so natural to show, which makes people feel comfortable. Compared with some of the frivolous performances now, they are always so affectable.
I especially like the saying in "God of food" that "there is no God of food at all, or everyone can be God of food", which is the theme of the film that Zhou Xingchi wants to express: concentrate on doing one thing, and you will make breakthroughs and achievements in this field. Just like his love of actors and movies,.
The God of food is a moving movie with a smile. It talks about human nature, persistence, change and finally understanding.
An incredible Chinese comedy, and commentary.
kurthr7 September 2000
God of Cookery is a hilarious parody of a number of other great HK films (the gambler series, early Jackie Chan, and "Chinese Feast" style cuisine dramas), though I didn't know that when I first saw it... it's how I got into the genre. Because it's satire is so over the top though, you also start to get a feel for the huge differences in film tabus between western and eastern cinema. Production values are amazingly high, and although they "fixed" a couple of hilarious subtitles in the DVD version, at least you can read them in most scenes. The self referential jokes about english translation and subtitles are still there.
The best of Kung Food!
The best of Kung Food!
slapstick, satire, spoof of Asian and western cinema...this one has it all
bcheng9316 March 2014
i guess i am a pretty big fan of stephen chow. i think i have seen every one of his movies and before he became a big movie star he was on a couple of TVB television series and i have watched those also. the man is a outright comic genius, in fact one of the best in the world.
personally for me, all his movies are watchable and they are never too long( 11/2 hours usually ). this particular movie is a little better than his usual efforts...but like i said, they are all funny.
the usual suspects are all here in this movie beside's stephen chow. if you've watched enough hk cinema you'll know what i'm talking about. also in here for a couple of quick cameos is johnny to regular lam suet, he was ridiculously funny. there is also famous television personalities and also the beautiful karen mok in one of her first movies.
i've noticed this and that is in everyone of his movies that came out he always has the "hot' or "it" girl at the moment. in this movie it is karen mok.
one of the things i liked about the movie besides the endless jokes and gags is that it deals with Chinese cooking and i loved how they showed this in the movie. some of it is real(like using overnight rice to make fry rice)and most of it is not, but a lot is steeped in Chinese cooking legend. the beef balls are actually made that way with the two batons, and the garbage noodles are available in just about every food-stall to this day.
the 18 bronze-men of shaolin gag was used twice and both times sidesplitting funny. the ping-pong scene with the beef balls gag is so famous everybody knows of it in hk and china.
if you're looking to laugh yourself silly i recommend that you try out this movie. cooking, kung-fu and stephen chow...man, you can't beat that combination.
personally for me, all his movies are watchable and they are never too long( 11/2 hours usually ). this particular movie is a little better than his usual efforts...but like i said, they are all funny.
the usual suspects are all here in this movie beside's stephen chow. if you've watched enough hk cinema you'll know what i'm talking about. also in here for a couple of quick cameos is johnny to regular lam suet, he was ridiculously funny. there is also famous television personalities and also the beautiful karen mok in one of her first movies.
i've noticed this and that is in everyone of his movies that came out he always has the "hot' or "it" girl at the moment. in this movie it is karen mok.
one of the things i liked about the movie besides the endless jokes and gags is that it deals with Chinese cooking and i loved how they showed this in the movie. some of it is real(like using overnight rice to make fry rice)and most of it is not, but a lot is steeped in Chinese cooking legend. the beef balls are actually made that way with the two batons, and the garbage noodles are available in just about every food-stall to this day.
the 18 bronze-men of shaolin gag was used twice and both times sidesplitting funny. the ping-pong scene with the beef balls gag is so famous everybody knows of it in hk and china.
if you're looking to laugh yourself silly i recommend that you try out this movie. cooking, kung-fu and stephen chow...man, you can't beat that combination.
Absolutely hysterical.
leighm4 August 1999
This film is laugh-out-loud material throughout. For those familiar with Hong Kong cinema, you'll get an extra kick out of the razor-sharp spoofs of various genre by Stephen Chow, but even if this is your first-ever HK film you'll find it non-stop laughs.
Chow plays the so-called "God of Cookery", a media hype creation who is a legend in his own mind, but not necessarily the kitchen. When he involves himself in a shady business deal, he is publicly shamed and loses all of his wealth and fame. After meeting up with the tough-as-nails Sister Turkey, a street food vendor (played to the hilt by Karen Mok), he seeks to regain his fame and fortune... but still hasn't quite learned his lesson yet - that takes a bit more plot and dozens more jokes.
Highly recommended! I rate it a 10 out of 10.
Chow plays the so-called "God of Cookery", a media hype creation who is a legend in his own mind, but not necessarily the kitchen. When he involves himself in a shady business deal, he is publicly shamed and loses all of his wealth and fame. After meeting up with the tough-as-nails Sister Turkey, a street food vendor (played to the hilt by Karen Mok), he seeks to regain his fame and fortune... but still hasn't quite learned his lesson yet - that takes a bit more plot and dozens more jokes.
Highly recommended! I rate it a 10 out of 10.
Stephen Chow Shines
alisonc-14 August 2023
Master Chow (Stephen Chow) is the self-proclaimed God of Cookery, a chef whose standards are so high that when he serves as judge in a cooking contest, he almost always awards zero points to all the competitors, disqualifying them all for minor flaws in their work. He treats his employees and hangers-on in much the same way, delighting in humiliating them, particularly a new assistant, a Chinese Cooking School graduate who fairly quickly usurps Master Chow. Now an outcast, Master Chow meets Twin Blade Turkey (Karen Mok) in a shady neighbourhood; she is a super-fan of his and together they create a new dish that might just return him to fortune. First, however, he must train at the Shaolin Temple - if he can survive their practices!
Stephen Chow became a star in the West with Shaolin Soccer (2001) and Kung Fu Hustle (2004); this film predates those, but showcases his martial arts talents, comedic chops and general all-out zaniness. I'm not sure how well it might be received in modern times, as a lot of the humour involves putting down various people for who they are, but if the viewer can remember that the 1990s were a very different time, you can be sure to have fun with this film!
Stephen Chow became a star in the West with Shaolin Soccer (2001) and Kung Fu Hustle (2004); this film predates those, but showcases his martial arts talents, comedic chops and general all-out zaniness. I'm not sure how well it might be received in modern times, as a lot of the humour involves putting down various people for who they are, but if the viewer can remember that the 1990s were a very different time, you can be sure to have fun with this film!
joyfully absurd silliness
red_hyro23 April 2005
Another terrific film from director/star/co-writer Stephan Chow, the highlight of which are scenes involving The Eighteen Brassmen of Shaolin Monastery, whom provide for particularly inspired comic moments in a movie full of them. Like his breakthrough film in the west, Shaolin Soccer, this film incorporates martial arts into an area not associated explicitly with them.
However, The God of Cookery is not as much focused upon cooking as it is upon an ever-expanding group of oddball characters. The most wonderful thing about Chow as a director is that he doesn't simply use them as vehicles for gags but really allow them screen time to do their thing, even if it is just a throwaway role in the film (the 'ugly chef' who is in the very first scene is a good example). This includes ugly duckling/love interest Turkey, whose absurdly brutal personality and violent behaviour is so incredibly funny because Karen Mok, the actress playing Turkey, portrays her so honestly and without guile. There is none of the incredibly unfunny, strained-'trying to be funny' or ironic acting often found in recent American comedies. Chow is apparently a huge fan of Bruce Lee, but his work seems to take as much from Charlie Chaplin, a guy who knew how to be serious-ly funny.
Anyway, if you enjoyed Stephan Chow's other comedies or are up for some joyfully absurd silliness, look around for this one, it's worth the effort.
However, The God of Cookery is not as much focused upon cooking as it is upon an ever-expanding group of oddball characters. The most wonderful thing about Chow as a director is that he doesn't simply use them as vehicles for gags but really allow them screen time to do their thing, even if it is just a throwaway role in the film (the 'ugly chef' who is in the very first scene is a good example). This includes ugly duckling/love interest Turkey, whose absurdly brutal personality and violent behaviour is so incredibly funny because Karen Mok, the actress playing Turkey, portrays her so honestly and without guile. There is none of the incredibly unfunny, strained-'trying to be funny' or ironic acting often found in recent American comedies. Chow is apparently a huge fan of Bruce Lee, but his work seems to take as much from Charlie Chaplin, a guy who knew how to be serious-ly funny.
Anyway, if you enjoyed Stephan Chow's other comedies or are up for some joyfully absurd silliness, look around for this one, it's worth the effort.
I've lost my appetite for HK comedy.
BA_Harrison6 January 2013
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.
One of the funniest films ever made!
zoo-81 August 1999
You don't have to be a devotee of Hong Kong cinema to love this delightfully silly spoof movie. While you might enjoy this film even *more* if you recognize the targets of its barbs, each gag stands alone. Karen Mok as Sister Turkey is one of the finest comedic portrayals I've seen in quite a while. Of course Stephen Chow, one of Hong Kong's most famous actors, gives a typically over-the-top performance as one of the world's great weasels turned... well, not exactly a good guy, but at least a bit *less* of the weasel.
Lots of genres get their turn in this film: martial arts movies, cooking shows, Chinese television commercials, you name it. A definite must for HK cinema fans or for anyone who likes to laugh out loud at films which are silly and witty at the same time.
Lots of genres get their turn in this film: martial arts movies, cooking shows, Chinese television commercials, you name it. A definite must for HK cinema fans or for anyone who likes to laugh out loud at films which are silly and witty at the same time.
Good laughs for any civilized culture!
shulmanator19 March 2002
I'm now a proud owner of this hilarious and original film. Full of comedy ranging from the physical silliness of the Three Stooges, to the absurd concept-driven comedy of Monty Python. Another great thing is you get to see Asian cinema making fun of common cliche`s of Asian cinema and animation. There is also a lot of fun references and similarities to the storytelling and cinematography of the Coen Brothers. I can see some ideas may have been borrowed from The Hudsucker Proxy, from 2 years before it. Very enjoyable for those who can read subtitles.
The best Stephen Chow movie!
Ryu Blue5 July 2002
I've seen all of Stephen Chow's comedies, and The God of Cookery is on the top of my list (right above From Beijing with Love). This film is the perfect "Intro to Stephen Chow" for all the unfortunate people that have yet been subjected to his spectacular brand of humour. If you're a fan of Chinese films, you must see this movie. If you're not, that's just too bad... it's never too late though.
Definitely one of Zhou's best films!
dessall30 July 2003
Shi Shen is definitely one of the best movies of Zhou. It is full of funny stuff, and it have many astounding moments with specific film technology, those are seldom seen in Hongkong movies. It also represents the culture of Chinese cuisine. In this film, Zhou combined cooking with kung fu, which resulted its great visual effects.
I like this movie!!!
I like this movie!!!
Funny movie, chinese version of loaded weapon
supercop-215 June 2000
Shi Shen is a hilarious parody to Chow Yun Fat's God Of Gamblers movies. It is all about Stephen Chow playing a role of a famous Chef with a natural born talent for cooking. He makes it big and shows his unmatched strength in the Chinese Cuisine Underworld. He encounters a counterpart who frames him and takes his position as the God Of Cookery and fights his way back to try and regain his position. I enjoyed this movie quite a bit since I enjoyed the God of Gamblers and am amused by Stephen Chow's witty sendups. I give it an 8 out of 10.
Didn't work for me
sarastro727 April 2005
I'm quite a big fan of Stephen Chow's newer work, from King of Comedy to Kung Fu Hustle. But God of Cookery just didn't work for me. Of course there was some good fun in it, but there was also far too much vulgarity and other tasteless forms of humor that I happen not to appreciate.
The worst, though, was that the story was so messy. There was hardly any structure to it (and of course the absolutely abysmal subtitles ruined even more of it), and it wasn't clearly told at all.
Quite simply, not a very good movie. I can understand why Chow's movies didn't get popular outside of Asia until the brilliant Shaolin Soccer.
My rating: 4 out of 10.
The worst, though, was that the story was so messy. There was hardly any structure to it (and of course the absolutely abysmal subtitles ruined even more of it), and it wasn't clearly told at all.
Quite simply, not a very good movie. I can understand why Chow's movies didn't get popular outside of Asia until the brilliant Shaolin Soccer.
My rating: 4 out of 10.
This Could Be The Best Film Ever Made...
Squ1db0y29 July 1999
Despite the recent increase in popularity of Asian film in the united states, what with the introduction of Jet Li and Jackie Chan to mainstream audiences, it seems that only the dedicated few are aquainted with the works of Stephen Chao. This particular film is quite possibly the best of his work so far, with its quick pace, hillarious sight gags and kungfu movie allusions. The overall style of the piece is very appealing and will not fail to delight even people who generally dislike foreign film. For best viewing, i prefer the DVD edition.. the subtitles are clearly ledgible, and fairly accurate to the cantonese dialogue.
One of the funniest movies ever made!
nkilz14 July 2000
I saw this movie on television in Taipei, Taiwan and I am now trying to obtain it on video. I have to say it is probably the funniest movie I have ever seen. Much better than any American comedy. The casting is perfect, the acting great, the dialogue is snappy, and the plot twists are cleverly done. This is a comedy masterpiece that makes contemporary American comedies look simplistic, absurd, and vulgar. I highly recommend this movie!
Funny to the bone!!!!
marcusjetson9 July 2015
This film is hilarious! You are immediately disarmed by the B-movie karate-flick ambiance and then thrown into a light-hearted and charmingly witty comedic performance by everyone. Chow is brilliantly honest with his delivery of finely tuned jokes and gags! The supporting roles are especially entertaining, as you are drawn into a fantastic world of culinary satire and sometimes sadistically dark humor. Be sure to place your tongue firmly in your cheek for this one and please don't miss a minute of this zany gut-busting marvel! I am giving this ten out of ten for such a sweet surprise. You just don't expect to laugh this hard, and still shed real tears of joy and pain. If you liked "Kung Fu Hustle", or "Kung Pow Chicken", this movie is for you, enjoy! Funny in the most heart-warming way. Fun FUN FUN!
Watch it Twice -- Better than Shaolin Soccer?
Big Huge Doug3 August 2003
We saw this first and were a bit confused by some of the plot elements, but liked it. On second viewing, as It All Became Clear, we *loved* it. If you were confused by the movie, give it a second chance. It's now one of our favorite movies in any language or genre.
And we saw Shaolin Soccer after seeing this and found the first half hour a little dull...so dull in fact that we haven't yet watched the rest of the movie. Just for that, I'd have to say that God of Cookery is superior.
God of Cookery gets a 10, and is in our list of top 10 favorite comedies.
And we saw Shaolin Soccer after seeing this and found the first half hour a little dull...so dull in fact that we haven't yet watched the rest of the movie. Just for that, I'd have to say that God of Cookery is superior.
God of Cookery gets a 10, and is in our list of top 10 favorite comedies.
I see your Cook Fu is strong!
smccar777 March 2011
"The God of Cookery," is a bizarre and over the top comedy that deals with passion, love, and a journey of self discovery. The three previously mentioned themes are couched in a storyline revolving around cooking and cooking competition. In addition the film incorporates wire fu, slightly gory kung fu, and Chinese religious references to stylize and accentuate the humorous aspects of the film. TGOC is a truly mixed bag of story, storytelling techniques, and genre staples. Such a bizarre mix is bound to be divisive. The film is very easily loved. Unfortunately, the film is just as easily hated. Certain assumptions by the filmmakers clearly show that TGOC is directed at a particular audience and not for general consumption.
The first assumption is that bizarreness, in story, in action sequence, and in acting is funny in and of itself. TGOC does not take itself very seriously. The layering of martial arts gang fights, quests for perfect the meatball, and scatological humor blend seamlessly into an extended examination of what it means to be one's self. Juxtaposing absurdity with existential growth leads the film to be odd, silly, and (depending on the viewer) outright hilarious. In addition, such juxtaposition requires that only a caricature of reality be maintained. Basically, the audience is given some very familiar themes to establish context and then the film takes those themes through a whirly-gig story that is wholly unexpected. The second assumption follows from the first. The filmmakers clearly hope that the themes of passion, love, and self discovery are not lost when masked with massive amounts of goofiness, satire, and humor. This second assumption appears to be very carefully considered. At no point does the story become so convoluted as to confuse the audience. In fact, the plot line is devilishly consistent allowing plot devices to function both as thematic reminders and key character development points. As a unit composed of acting, story, assumption, and direction, TGOC is very well done.
As hinted at above, this film does lend itself to being disliked. The absurdity of the story leads to several potential problems. First, the acting is at times too cheesy. This is particularly the case with extended shots of the female lead pensively staring into the camera. Second, the subtitles are very fast and somewhat hard to understand. The dialog of the film is meant to be quick and quirky. This combination is especially difficult to capture in subtitle form. Occasionally the viewer misses whole sentences or catches lines which are seemingly non-sensical. Finally, Chinese humor does not always translate. There are several instances where puerile slapstick or silly punning is used. Unfortunately, both of these comedy types are lost on audiences unaccustomed to Chinese humor (and I am not really accustomed to Chinese humor).
While TGOC may have some debatable weak points, the film makes up for them in other wonderful ways. The plot is laugh out loud funny and surprisingly coherent. In addition, the plot creatively finds ways to take absurd characters and develop them into likable and rather natural people. From a technical standpoint, the film is well paced. The editing very rarely lags or hinders the natural stride of the story. The shot composition is a good mix of fast and slow cuts depending on mood and intention of the filmmaker. The effects, while now commonplace, are well done and a visual treat. When all is said and done, TGOC is a set of upbeat themes draped in playful goofiness. The film leads the audience through a playful story of the roles love and passion play in self discovery. In essence, one cannot help but laugh their way through this upbeat and fun tale.
On a personal note, this is a wonderful introduction to bizarre film. Everything about the movie is slightly off for the Western audience, thus allowing for some big laughs. Also, the film is not so over the top as to alienate anyone. This film makes the perfect companion to an evening of shared cooking, wine, and film. I will be highly recommending this to friends. 7.5 of 10 stars.
The first assumption is that bizarreness, in story, in action sequence, and in acting is funny in and of itself. TGOC does not take itself very seriously. The layering of martial arts gang fights, quests for perfect the meatball, and scatological humor blend seamlessly into an extended examination of what it means to be one's self. Juxtaposing absurdity with existential growth leads the film to be odd, silly, and (depending on the viewer) outright hilarious. In addition, such juxtaposition requires that only a caricature of reality be maintained. Basically, the audience is given some very familiar themes to establish context and then the film takes those themes through a whirly-gig story that is wholly unexpected. The second assumption follows from the first. The filmmakers clearly hope that the themes of passion, love, and self discovery are not lost when masked with massive amounts of goofiness, satire, and humor. This second assumption appears to be very carefully considered. At no point does the story become so convoluted as to confuse the audience. In fact, the plot line is devilishly consistent allowing plot devices to function both as thematic reminders and key character development points. As a unit composed of acting, story, assumption, and direction, TGOC is very well done.
As hinted at above, this film does lend itself to being disliked. The absurdity of the story leads to several potential problems. First, the acting is at times too cheesy. This is particularly the case with extended shots of the female lead pensively staring into the camera. Second, the subtitles are very fast and somewhat hard to understand. The dialog of the film is meant to be quick and quirky. This combination is especially difficult to capture in subtitle form. Occasionally the viewer misses whole sentences or catches lines which are seemingly non-sensical. Finally, Chinese humor does not always translate. There are several instances where puerile slapstick or silly punning is used. Unfortunately, both of these comedy types are lost on audiences unaccustomed to Chinese humor (and I am not really accustomed to Chinese humor).
While TGOC may have some debatable weak points, the film makes up for them in other wonderful ways. The plot is laugh out loud funny and surprisingly coherent. In addition, the plot creatively finds ways to take absurd characters and develop them into likable and rather natural people. From a technical standpoint, the film is well paced. The editing very rarely lags or hinders the natural stride of the story. The shot composition is a good mix of fast and slow cuts depending on mood and intention of the filmmaker. The effects, while now commonplace, are well done and a visual treat. When all is said and done, TGOC is a set of upbeat themes draped in playful goofiness. The film leads the audience through a playful story of the roles love and passion play in self discovery. In essence, one cannot help but laugh their way through this upbeat and fun tale.
On a personal note, this is a wonderful introduction to bizarre film. Everything about the movie is slightly off for the Western audience, thus allowing for some big laughs. Also, the film is not so over the top as to alienate anyone. This film makes the perfect companion to an evening of shared cooking, wine, and film. I will be highly recommending this to friends. 7.5 of 10 stars.
A little crazy
gbill-748775 January 2021
It's hard to truly dislike a Stephen Chow film, but this one didn't work so well for me. I liked the idea of kung-fu applied to master chefs with the special moves and all, but the humor too often degraded to jokes about ugly women, belting people in the head, and juvenile potty humor, e.g. the "pissing beef balls." It's absurd and all over the place which is part of its charm, and some of the humor lands. It's ok, just a little crazy.
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