The Menu

The Menu was truly one of my most anticipated films of 2022, and then we didn’t get to go see it in theaters. So though I was disappointed that I had to watch it on HBO Max I am glad that I finally got to see it. The trailer depicted what seemed to be a satire with the message of “eat the rich” a theme that made it a must watch for us. After watching the film, it was definitely a satire, just not truly the “eat the rich” kind, more like eat the overly intellectual. Which is part of the reason watching people on the internet analyze it to death is hilarious. There really wasn't that much to analyze and that's what I appreciated most about it, it was very straight forward.

Now one of the major criticisms I’ve seen from this film is that the satire is too obvious and on the nose. The reality is that the people that need to see satire need it to be obvious and on the nose or they simply won’t understand it. Add in the fact that satire’s are by definition over the top. The film did exactly what it needed to do, nothing more and nothing less. The theme was incredibly clear and there wasn’t much room for interpretation. One of my least favorite tropes in the history of screenwriting is when the theme is spelled out in dialogue. The Menu never quite got to that point, it got tantalizingly close several times but not so close that I would call it a critique.

Another incredible element to this film is the cinematography. The way it was shot was beautiful, kind of like the normal psychological thriller. The images were stunning and each one aided in the story instead of taking away from it. As they were first walking into the restaurant and the big swinging door closed behind them, the way the camera followed Margot down the hallway, and the first clap and call to attention for the rest of the kitchen staff were my favorite shots. But really this film was filled with great cinematic moments and that alone makes it worth the watch.

The acting was of course impeccable, now I don’t think anyone was oscar worthy, neither was the source material. The rest of the cast was pretty ancillary to the story but they all played their characters well. But Anya Taylor-Joy did a magnificent job and was the stand out part of the film. I am hoping that this does set up an opportunity for some Oscar worthy material for her.

Overall the movie was a great watch-at-home movie. Now movies that you have to see in the theaters are mostly reserved for films with overtly stunning visuals, even if they rely on those visuals and have no actual substance (yes I’m talking about Avatar), genre movies like Marvel or Lord of the Rings, or any film you just want to show financial support for. That said, The Menu was a watch at home choice, I wouldn’t necessarily pay $12 for a ticket to see it but I am also glad I saw it. There is a difference between a lower end theater film and a streaming service film and I think The Menu kind of walks that border. I would give the film a 6-7/10, it was excellent commentary and it sparked some hilarious internet discussions but the rewatch factor is pretty low and like I said if we didn’t have a-list it wouldn’t have been on our radar.