The God of Cookery

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!

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. ;)

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.

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.

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.