Chef’s Special

A sexy Spanish comedy with a soupçon of Almodovar, CHEF'S SPECIAL is “Ratatouille” for grown-ups. The drama swirls around Maxi, the flamboyant chef and owner of a trendy Madrid restaurant, whose biggest stressors revolve around the romantic foibles of his kitchen staff and the anticipation of soon being awarded a coveted Michelin star. Maxi's fabulous lifestyle is at risk of grinding to a halt, however, when his ex-wife dies, leaving him with an angry 15-year-old son and a curious six-year-old daughter he barely knows. Matters come to a head when a really cute, and closeted, Argentine soccer player moves in down the hall and becomes the fixation of Maxi's sexy but romantically-challenged Alex, his maitre d'. Reminiscent in style of “Boystown,” which was screened at last year's CIFF, CHEF'S SPECIAL is by turns outrageous and moving, as Maxi learns to come to terms with the things that are really important in life. Javier Cámara, who turns in a stunning performance as Maxi, is someone to watch in Spanish cinema. First introduced to a US audience in the Pedro Almodovar film “Talk to Her,” he was the subject of a recent seven-film tribute at the Film Society of Lincoln Center. (In Spanish with English subtitles) – B.B.