The Menu (2022)

Originally reviewed on 1/3/23, last edited 9/7/23.

The Menu's poster. All of the characters standing in a layered manner, most notable the chef in the middle and the main protagonist and her date up front. The main protagonist looks bored.

I wasn't engaged at first, just multitasking because this was just another film my friends put on but after the first big action moment I was totally absorbed. It felt very tense.

Personally, the satire and humor landed for me. Probably because I'm an artist that has only worked for minimum wage at fast food joints where 1 burger cost more money than I made in an hour. This is a raging rant against art being fucked by capitalism, by needing profits above all else. As a result, it can become a little messy and lost.

There's criticisms against unrealistic behavior, and at some points I agree, but at other points it is accurate. People are like that. Especially rich people that are completely and utterly disconnected from reality and have never felt true fear a day in their lives.

I feel like some negative reviews come from the perspective that you are meant to agree with the chef entirely, but I do not think that was the intention. He's a terrible person doing terrible things to other terrible people. He is factually the antagonist and the villain of the film.

Lastly, sometimes movies don't need to have super subtle symbolism. I know thinly-veiled is an insult, but maybe sometimes you want people to understand your point with 100% clarity and without anyone "Well, maybe..." 'ing your heart-felt message.

★★★★☆