Movie Review - The Hundred-Foot Journey

The Hundred-Foot Journey ***½ (PG) For those craving a nice little dramedy aimed for older audiences, this one should fill the bill nicely. A family of restaurateurs from Mumbai is forced from their home by political unrest. After a failed attempt to re-start in England, they’re driving through France when their car breaks down in a remote village. The patriarch (Om Puri) senses their destiny lies there in an abandoned eatery, despite its proximity to an elegant one-star Michelin Guide establishment directly across the road. The star of the enterprise is Hassan, who inherited his late mother’s instincts for creating unique and wonderful dishes, and just needs the chance to let his gift blossom, as Harry Potter needed his Hogwarts education.

The locals, knowing nothing of Indian cuisine, are skeptical. The rival owner (Helen Mirren) is initially dismayed by the gaudy colors and pungent odors invading her turf, then threatened by the awareness of some serious competition. The two sides engage in various tactics to mess with each other, even as one or two possible romances stir across the battle line. There’s not a lot of novelty in the screenplay, but the settings are lovely and foodies will salivate over the kitchen and dining table closeups. The story plays out with a lyrical sweetness despite some ethnic unpleasantness in the mix. Mirren and Puri aren’t the stars, but they’re the ones who make it all work as well as it does. (8/8/14)