Emily Becker

Perfect example of the issues with cultural appropriation. John Favreau uses Sofia Vergara and John Leguizamo to advance his career of becoming a chef of Cuban cuisine. Really warms the heart to see all the Latinx people in the movie pulling together to uplift the deadbeat white dad. He used his ex-wife to get the truck. He used Leguizamo as his assistant but also relied on him to communicate with kitchen staff and the men who helped them get the stove in the truck. Despite having a child with a Latinx woman, having an ex father-in-law who doesn’t speak English, working in the restaurant industry in California, and opening a fancy Cuban restaurant he doesn’t bother or even muse that it would be a good idea to learn Spanish. He used his ex father-in-law to perform at his grand opening, to up his Cuban cred. The story of his creative journey and bonding with his son was great. I loved his conflict with Dustin Hoffman. It would have been a good movie if not for the cringing I couldn’t contain throughout.