MovieChat Forums > Chef (2014) Discussion > Was okay. but couldn't get past differen...

Was okay. but couldn't get past differences in physical attractiveness


A poor Jon Favreau is not going to receive affection from a wealthy Sophia Vergara. Also, is not going to bed a Scarlett Johansson.

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A man that can cook, especially as well as Carl Casper, is sexy.

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There is no dirt-poor excellent fat cook who is dating a wealthy woman that looks like Sophia Vergara.

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Such a dumb-ass shallow remark.

Some women can see past the physical and fall in love for the man they are, even women with beauty, like Sophia Vergara's character. We don't know the back story on how they met, but the movie did indicate that Carl used to be thinner and a critically acclaimed chef prior to the rest of this story. So yes, I think a woman with the physical beauty of Sophia Vergara could fall for a guy like Carl Casper, regardless of what internet idiots think of him.

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I'm a fit person, and my significant other is what you would call traditionally handsome; however, Chef Carl Casper (aka Jon Favreau) could definitely turn my head.

Also, FWIW, it was alluded to often in the film that he had gained weight since becoming divorced and uninspired. Still, women are more attracted to the mind and heart, and while looks most certainly matter, especially for initial attraction, those other qualities can most definitely make any woman fall in love.

Jon Favreau is truly one of the nicest and smartest men in Hollywood. Everyone who knows him likes him and enjoys working with him. When I see him, I don't see your rude and ignorant assessment; I see a handsome and charismatic man.

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Real life isn't a rom-com. Granted, there are exceptions, but as a general rule, attractive wealthy women won't go for fat ugly poor dudes. Its just the way of the world.

“There are no ordinary moments. There is always something going on.” – Peaceful Warrior

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What is fat and ugly to one person, may be a kind, considerate, and all around sweetheart to someone else. Lets also not assume that the attractive woman some ass loving creep is looking up and down thinks or is aware that she is that attractive. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It's the way of the world to worship the rich and beautiful, but most of the world knows that's bullsht. I think it's ridiculous to assume that all women with beauty is that arrogant and shallow.

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What is fat and ugly to one person, may be a kind, considerate, and all around sweetheart to someone else. Lets also not assume that the attractive woman some ass loving creep is looking up and down thinks or is aware that she is that attractive. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It's the way of the world to worship the rich and beautiful, but most of the world knows that's bullsht. I think it's ridiculous to assume that all women with beauty is that arrogant and shallow.


Those of you posting against the OP are in some serious denial. There is absolutely without a doubt a horrendous bias for movies to place only traditionally good-looking females in films and they are often paired with their inferiors in the looks department. This isn't about your deluded fantasies, this exists and it appalls me each time I see it occurring without fail. This movie was filled with men you can see on the street or cutting your lawn but average looking women were banned.

BUGS

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Those of you posting against the OP are in some serious denial. There is absolutely without a doubt a horrendous bias for movies to place only traditionally good-looking females in films and they are often paired with their inferiors in the looks department.

Yep, that's the issue. The majority of TV shows (Big Bang Theory, Sofia Vergara again in Modern Family w/Al Bundy) and Hollywood movies feature less than avg. looking men with gorgeous women. Favreau wrote and directed the movie so I guess he casted women whom he'd like to bed.


He was successful though -- F&W's best new chef, etc. I actually do know a few rotund, average-looking but successful chefs with beautiful wives/girlfriends.

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BINGO!

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GS Smith: what you said!

This is a bias so common in films that it typically passes without comment. The male characters look entirely ordinary -- middle-aged, chunky, etc. The female characters are off-the-charts gorgeous.

I mean, the director did not even pick "nice looking but believably attractive" actresses, but two of the most drop-dead gorgeous desirable women in Hollywood and placed them alongside Favreau, who is far from good looking. Even this might have been believable if he was a rich superstar chef, but he is clearly presented as so desperately poor he lives in a dump, can't take his kid on vacation and has to borrow money from his wife' s OTHER ex-husband.

One of the many problems with this sexist mindset is that homely, overweight middle-aged Hollywood power brokers -- directors, famous actors, the occasional rock star -- CAN obtain super-gorgeous girlfriends & wives, but ONLY where enormous wealth and power counter-balance their lack of physical attractiveness. This does not work for poor, ordinary guys.

Also: when did you last see a woman of great fame, power and talent -- who was older and not beautiful AND FAT -- who just happened to have a sweet, interesting, incredibly handsome male lover or husband? How about "never"? Why do fame, money and power trump looks in a man -- but in a woman, they are the be-all and end-all of her value and talent?

Don't believe me? Re-imagine this film about a female chef, played by Rosie O'Donnell....who is shown with Brad Pitt as her ex-husband and Chatum Tanning as her lover. People would not ONLY not believe this, but it would create hilarity and thousands of cruel posts about how unbelievable this was.

One of the biggest double standards going.

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I first thought the women were supposed to be kind of gold diggers but his ex got *beep* ton of cash, more than him?? So this made little sense. Like the guys is good cook and ok dude but he isn't even funny or have anything to say. Doesn't seem to be rich either.

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URGHH! Why are teenagers allowed to discuss serious movies on this board?

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THANK YOU for saying it as it is. This is typical Hollywood perpetuating the male fantasy where average men can attain the ultimate "prize": beautiful women. "Knocked up" and "Neighbors" are perfect examples of this.

Complete double standard. You never see average looking women with gorgeous guys in films.

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The song 'Is She Really Going Out With Him' with its lyric 'Pretty Women Out Walking With Gorillas' springs to mind

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I totally agree with you and with the OP, GSmith9072, and my wife (who happens to be both gorgeous and a brilliant scholar) commented on the very same issue in the film. The combination of both Sofia Vergara and Scarlett J was too much, and it looked preposterous to be honest. Of course Sofia and Scarlett were also dressed to the nines in every scene (including a scene in which Vergara walked out to greet the son and appeared to be dressed in a full-length Oscar gown) while Favreau stumbled around looking sweaty and sloppy in t-shirts and short-sleeved shirts that were too tight. As was pointed out, it had the feel of a rom-com fantasy scenario for Favreau -- the reverse of the romantic movie cliche of the "girl next door" who becomes the object of infatuation of say a random billionaire (Fifty Shades), etc. It seemed very self-indulgent.


"I love those redheads!" (Wooderson, Dazed and Confused, 1993)

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I think the REAL point here isn't whether it is dumb or sexist for the OP to start this topic, but that it is a FACT that most men will not be in love with a plain or possibly ugly or plump or fat woman nearly as often as a woman will love beyond these perceived less desirable features in men. It is just a fact and one which, also a fact, Hollywood repeatedly fails to try to overcome, thus, reinforcing the perception for the younguns being influenced by that which they watch. While movies will extremely often portray plain, obese and/or older men with young, beautiful women, the opposite seldom ever happens in a movie or tv show without it being about "cougarism."

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Great insight, ten-often.
If Jon Favreau happen to be skinny in this movie, then another bunch of post pubescent teenagers would flood this board with something like "No way such a gorgeous woman would fall for a guy without biceps. Hollywood cliché".
(And maybe one of those posters would happen to have a gorgeous wife who is also a great scholar)

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Can you mention a Hollywood couple where one is a hottie and the other is plain/regular bordering fat/ugly?
The only example that comes to mind is Huge Jackman. Still, that's one a million.

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Thats because he's gay...

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bingo

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Pierce Brosnan (for his age) and his wife, though she was gorgeous when they married.

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Your general rule does not match with what I see in the real world. There are some shallow people who only date based on looks or status, but the majority of people I see and know seem to be basing their choices on a lot more than that.

I would go as far to say that most women, regardless of their own beauty (which is a relative term anyway), care less about looks and money than they do about personality and passion. The pairing in the movie made perfect sense to me, and matched what I see constantly in my day-to-day life.

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LOL. You think gorgeous women sleep with Harvey Weinstein because of his personality and passion? Please, it's his power and money.

If you see an ugly or fat or plain man with a gorgeous model looking type of girl, she is there for his bank account.

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Its just the way of the world.


No, life is not a sweet and fuzzy rom-com. But not very sure what world you're living in! There are gorgeous, sexy and wealthy women who are attracted to guys with Jon's build and character (Some even bigger!) Some individuals need to remove those 'Hollywood goggles' when it comes to real-life. My opinion, only.

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Thanks for saying it.

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"Real life isn't a rom-com. Granted, there are exceptions, but as a general rule, attractive wealthy women won't go for fat ugly poor dudes. Its just the way of the world."

They'll go for fat ugly rich dudes all day long though - just look in the gossip columns.

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Yeah because chef was such a likeable guy underneath it all... he was a douchebag so thats whats inside BS wont fly here

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Kinda ironic then how in real life Sofia Vergara is always saying she'd never date a man who didn't have money, and you never see her with a man that looks like Jon Favreau (I think she's currently going out with one of the guys from Magic Mike.)

..or maybe not lol http://www.wackywarfare.com

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Sofia Vergara, is actress. We are talking about beautiful sexy women who are not actresses, exactly like the types portrayed by her and Johansson.

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[deleted]

It's not shallow, it's true. Look around you, fool.

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[deleted]

You are sooooo wrong. Women make decisions about men based on emotion, intelligence, and other emotional factors, AS WELL AS LOOKS. I see this all the time. The real world is not Brad and Angelina. The fact that this couple in the film is divorced makes sense too. Maybe the bridge was to far to cross, and the evidence is right in the movie itself. The two leads were not supposed to be a couple, but two divorced people. That made all the sense in the world.

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Let's not forget that the character was once married to the Sofia character, and then marries her again.

Frank S.

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There is no dirt-poor excellent fat cook who is dating a wealthy woman that looks like Sophia Vergara.


That house was theirs (together) she got it and a lot of his money after the divorce. He says so right in the movie. Plus they insinuate he put on a lot of weight.

Also, go to any supermarket or shopping mall or anywhere and you'll see freaking bombshells walking around or working there. They are just women. They have problems: crappy boyfriends, crappy jobs, bills, kids...just like the rest of us.


You guys seriously need to get out more. And I'm not saying that to be funny. I've dated women waaaaaaay out of my "league" and, it all started with a simple, honest, "Hi. I'm Ross."

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[deleted]

Yeah, ofc good personality and all that mind bs come into play in longer relationship, but first it's all about the looks or charisma, this fat chef didn't seem to have much.

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Amen to that.

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Agreed, and can you imagine if the roles were reversed? An ordinary looking, rather pudgy woman, and, say, Tom Cruise? That would fly even less....

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Agreed, and can you imagine if the roles were reversed? An ordinary looking, rather pudgy woman, and, say, Tom Cruise? That would fly even less....


I think any woman and Tom Cruise would be a stretch.

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lol internet virgin is jealous that Tom Cruise, one of the biggest movie stars in history, laid the smackdown to 100x more women than he did.

Check out my latest film reviews at:
http://www.movie-blogger.com/users/moviemuscle

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LOL!!!! Amen.

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There are ordinary, pudgy, and even old women who find their way to hot looking guys (who are often younger) all the time. I used to work in the travel industry here in Southern California years ago and worked with a lot of couples. I saw a lot more couples where the guy was way hotter than the woman than I saw the other way around.
I worked with one couple one time, he was a Marine, and she was a housewife. He was one of the best looking men I have ever seen. Fit. Handsome. Had it totally going on.
She was obese, and not attractive.
And no, this wasn't an exception. This was actually quite common.
Would you see couples where the chick was more attractive than the guy? Yes. But he usually had money and/or power.
To say that it wouldn't fly the other way around though? Reality proves otherwise.
Plenty of hot guys out there with women who don't even come close to measuring up to the dude's looks.

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To say that it wouldn't fly the other way around though? Reality proves otherwise.
Plenty of hot guys out there with women who don't even come close to measuring up to the dude's looks.


Actually I was talking about seeing this in Hollywood films. Hairspray is the only one I can think of off hand, but that doesn't mean there aren't more of them--I just think it is seen as less "acceptable." I could be wrong there too.

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Actually I was talking about seeing this in Hollywood films. Hairspray is the only one I can think of off hand, but that doesn't mean there aren't more of them--I just think it is seen as less "acceptable." I could be wrong there too.
No, you are not wrong there. See the top-ten's post on the first page.

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But it happens, I know one couple and saw another bunch just like that. A guy thats handsome and confident around girls and a women that would be hard to call average. Yet they get married have kids and live happy.

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Homeland had that scenario.

"Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine"

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Look up Hugh Jackman's wife.

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You're an idiot and know nothing about women. Let's just leave it at that.

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Okay...show me ONE EXAMPLE of a low-income highly-obese man who has a serious relationship (NOT RANDOM SEX) with a wealthy gorgeous woman. Just one.

I know that women aren't out for just looks. But they're also not so shallow as to only be out for personality or a good cook. A woman such as Sophia Vergara's character in the movie is almost certainly going to value health awareness and financial security as well as other items already mentioned in this thread.

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You're an idiot. Love come sin alll forms. There are a lot of cases where there are odd pairs. My neighbor is a large man, isn't rich and his wife is extremely nice and attractive. It happens all the time,step out into the real world.

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You're an idiot. Love come sin alll forms. There are a lot of cases where there are odd pairs. My neighbor is a large man, isn't rich and his wife is extremely nice and attractive. It happens all the time,step out into the real world.


You're the idiot. What happened in 'Chef' is prevalent in nearly 100% of Hollywood movies and even many indie movies.

BUGS

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Okay...show me ONE EXAMPLE of a low-income highly-obese man who has a serious relationship (NOT RANDOM SEX) with a wealthy gorgeous woman. Just one.


While she might not be wealthy and he might not be obese, he's certainly disadvantaged in the looks department but still he got the girl.(link below)


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pictured-punching-above-your-weig ht-3277371

All right, that's it! No more Mr. Nice Gaius!

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The OP is correct because Hollywood has been perpetuating this male myth (of the beautiful woman as the prize) since the beginning of film comedy. Without it, a lot of films would not be made. I mean let's be real, if his ex-wife was played by Roseanne Barr who would care or go see it?

"No! That’s not true at all. Elvis takes fifty percent of everything I earn." Col. Parker

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Brittany Murphy and Simon Monjack. ok, he wasn't dirt poor, but he wasn't exactly wealthy either, and they're both dead now, but its the first couple that came to mind lol

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Agree if the guy is low income but I'd didn't have the sense that this guy was initially low income at all. I had the sense of a guy who usually pulls in pretty good coin but is temporarily down on his luck. He is down on his luck because his wife probably got most of his assets in the divorce--not to mention that he just lost his job. I'm sure when he and his wife originally got together he was doing very well.

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You obviously missed the line in the film where its said SV got most of JFs money in the divorce. They were both rich and he got fat recently.

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[deleted]

Is your name Elliot Rodger??

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Dude or Dudette - you missed the point! The movie was about a son and a father finding each other. Yes we had food porn and we had side attractions, but really what did the boy want more than anything - time to hang with his dad. Dad only realized it when he watched the 1 second videos strung together.

If you are married, one of you is much better looking than the other. This will always be a fact. But love is truly blind and if your marriage is successful - looks are irrelevant.

Jon never bed Scarlett - he cooked for her - some of the food porn!

Do not be superficial when love is involved because the time tested expression is true - love is blind!

Be good!

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[deleted]

I disagree that Jon didn't bed Scarlett...he cooked for her afterwards - the bed was all messed up and they were in different clothes. Also, "Inez" referred to the fact that he screwed around with a "waitress" in the restaurant...

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Sofia Vergara.

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Your cute will DIE eating dry food! Go to Dr. Pierson's CATINFO.ORG to prevent it!

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Women are attracted to status too, not just money and/or looks.

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It's all relative. For some reason, I kept seeing James Gandolfini in that role. (Maybe because Jon gained weight for this role and looked a bit similar to Gandolfini?) At any rate, if Gandolfini was in that role in a perfect world and he wasn't dead, you'd most likely feel differently...even though they have the same body type. Again, it's all relative.

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I too was constantly reminded of James Gandolfini by Jon.

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