Saint Pauly

3/10

As gourmet as store brand vanilla pudding in a can. If the chef in the film served this to his patrons they'd send it back and walk out. After the young woman from an immigrant family and the wrong side of the tracks who became a fashion designer (Haute Couture), then the young man from an immigrant family and the wrong side of the tracks who became an opera singer (Tenor), and the young woman from an immigrant family and the wrong side of the tracks who became an orchestra conductor (Divertimento), now we get the young man from an immigrant family and the wrong side of the tracks who becomes a famous chocolatier. I feel bad for the real life person this film is based on because he deserves so much better than the sad irony that a film about gourmet cooking delivers the cinematic equivalent of fast food. It's not just that the subject is cliché but it's an objectively badly made film. The irritating flashbacks, the hackneyed story and the slo-mo -- yes, the slo-mo -- cooking scenes meant to look like Rocky had me laughing through the cringe. Every star I give this film is because it shows how the foster care system can make a difference in a child's life, but I'm sending all the rest of it back to hell's kitchen.