Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • Thank You
    • 4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
    • 3999. The Pianist (2002)
    • 3998. Philadelphia (1993)
    • 3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
    • 3996. The Green Mile (1999)
    • 3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
    • 3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»2317. The Chef Of The South Pole (南極料理人) (2009)

    2317. The Chef Of The South Pole (南極料理人) (2009)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on October 17, 2018 120-129 mins, 2009, 6 - 7.9, Comedy, Japan, Movies Of 2018, Oct 18, Review
    7.6 Charming, but tiring
    • Acting 7.5
    • Directing 7.5
    • Story 7.7
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Masoto Sakai, Kosuke Toyohara, Kengo Kora

    Director: Shûichi Okita

    Running Time: 125 mins


    The Chef Of The South Pole is a Japanese film about a man with a passion for cooking who is stationed in an extremely remote research base in Antarctica with seven other men, and after spending over a year in the base, he and his colleagues suffer a series of crises that worsens when the food supply decreases.

    This is a rather strange film, and although it’s a likable and quirky watch throughout, with some fun jokes and characters in the middle of a bizarre environment, it is a movie that somewhat overstays its welcome, dragging on a little too much over the course of a plus-two hour runtime that just doesn’t feel particularly earned, especially considering the film’s quirky brand of comedy.

    We’ll get into that downfall in a bit, but I have to start off with the fact that, if you like dry, quirky humour, then this is the film for you. Set in an extremely isolated base in the middle of Antarctica, with eight somewhat mismatched men living together, the film offers up ample opportunity for a combination of mishaps and entertaining comedic tension, something that comes through best in the leads’ rather deadpan performances.

    I can’t say that the performances are exceptional, and when it comes to giving a bit more insight into the characters themselves, the actors don’t quite manage to bring the intended drama or depth across, but as far as the film’s main intention goes, that is being a bizarrely smiley and charmingly quirky comedy, the performances are all just right, and make for a good few laughs throughout.

    In fact, the whole of the first half is a fantastic laugh. While it’s not intended to be a laugh-a-minute riot, the film’s deliberately slow pacing and lack of dialogue creates a good degree of expectation and comedic tension between each major joke, something that makes the payoff that little bit more satisfying, all the while playing into the hands of that quirky atmosphere.

    That’s not to say there are few jokes here. Depending on what you’re looking for, you’ll find varying degrees of enjoyment from The Chef Of The South Pole. In that first half, there’s the main quirkiness that’s just fun to watch unfold, but there are a whole heap of mini-gags within, which aren’t overtly expressed in a way that most comedies would try to do, but do make for a satisfying giggle when you see them.

    With all that said, and as much as I enjoyed the film’s quirky, deadpan vibe, it all goes on just a bit too long. Above all, the slow pacing that allows for the comedic tension to work so well in the first half, is by far the biggest contributor to what eventually becomes a rather tiresome watch, still trying to utilise the same slow, deadpan style when you’ve already grown a little weary.

    What’s more is that the plot, while interesting, unique and fairly entertaining, doesn’t quite have the depth or intrigue to really take over when the comedy doesn’t stand up so well. It works fine towards the conclusion, and as we see the dynamic of the small community in the research base change rather dramatically as a result of some farcical circumstances, it’s not a tedious watch, but there isn’t really enough to change the overall feel of the movie, with its main impression still being that of the quirky comedy that it was in the opening act.

    As a result, I had fun with The Chef Of The South Pole, but it’s not a film that thoroughly enamoured me from start to finish. While immensely likable and delightfully quirky at first, the movie doesn’t do enough to keep itself fresh throughout its rather overlong runtime, and furthered by slow pacing that works well at first, but soon becomes a pitfall in itself, it’s not a film that will keep you as hugely entertained as it manages early on, and that’s why I’m giving it a 7.6 overall.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. From January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2022, he watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    8.2

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    8.2
    December 25, 2022

    3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

    5.6
    December 10, 2022

    3969. Falling For Christmas (2022)

    6.9
    December 4, 2022

    3956. The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

    5.4
    December 3, 2022

    3954. Disenchanted (2022)

    7.4
    December 3, 2022

    3953. Meet Cute (2022)

    7.6
    November 23, 2022

    3934. Do Revenge (2022)

    7.0
    November 18, 2022

    3929. The Wonder (2022)

    6.7
    November 13, 2022

    3924. See How They Run (2022)

    Recommended Movies
    9.6
    Review
    July 10, 20140

    618. Under The Skin (2013)

    8.8
    Review
    December 26, 20160

    1595. Nocturnal Animals (2016)

    8.0
    Review
    October 29, 20200

    3136. Over The Moon (2020)

    9.0
    Review
    November 20, 20150

    1157. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)

    8.1
    Review
    March 15, 20190

    2488. Ben Is Back (2018)

    Popular Posts
    December 31, 2022

    Thank You

    8.2
    December 31, 2022

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8
    December 30, 2022

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2
    December 29, 2022

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    7.5
    December 28, 2022

    3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

    9.1
    December 27, 2022

    3996. The Green Mile (1999)

    7.6
    December 26, 2022

    3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.