The 100-Foot Journey

I wasn’t sure if I was up to seeing The 100-Foot Journey. It seemed, from the previews, like it would be another The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Helen Mirren sort of reprising Judi Dench. Despite a few misgivings, we went to see it. I was wrong on all counts. It was about an Indian family who make their way to France to start life over after a fire in their Mumbai restaurant destroyed nearly everything they owned and killed the mother. An interesting plot concept, and one that played out without any surprises. This film was more like a fairy tale put out by Disney than an examination of real life. Very charming but not at all surprising. And the food, oh, my, the food. The tastes and aromas almost ooze from screen to audience, making the popcorn seem rather pedestrian. Back to the fairy tale part. Apparently France doesn’t have any rodents or flies or mosquitoes. And the mountainside forests were Disney-like parks, and the village like a pristine Disney set. Very charming but not very realistic. The two restaurants, an award-winning French restaurant one hundred feet across the street from the Indian restaurant that Papa Kadam (Om Puri) opens, are both resplendently pristine. And the fight between Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren) and Papa Kadam is amusing as each tries to outwit the other in their fight for customers. Hassan Kadam (Manish Dayal) wants to become a renowned chef known for more than his skills with Indian foods. Mr. Dayal has to be the handsomest young man since Rudolph Valentino or Douglas Fairbanks. His rival chef from across the street is Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon) but it’s Disney-obvious they will end up on the same side of the street. This was a rewarding way, a succulent way, to spend two hours watching gorgeous people in gorgeous settings. I wouldn’t want to see it again, but I’m really glad I saw it once upon a time.