Burnt is outrageously, amazingly, incredibly undercooked. I am stunned that an Academy Award nominated actor like Bradley Cooper would put in such a half-baked performance, or even accept such a raw script. I am also surprised that Burnt got as much as a 27% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Perhaps my colleagues are giving credit (where credit is due) to the luscious food photography.

I am also astounded that talented helmer John Wells directed this fiasco. He also helmed one of my favorite films of the year, Love and Mercy, and produced such memorable movies as Far From Heaven, One Hour Photo and White Oleander, and was also behind television series juggernauts including Shameless, ER, The West Wing and Mildred Pierce. Oh well — no one’s perfect, I guess.

There’s a heavy helping of every food movie cliche ever filmed in this story about a troubled chef who was once the enfant terrible, of the Paris cooking scene, earning two Michelin stars. But his ego and his drug obsession were his downfall, and now he’s back, this time in London, to reclaim his culinary crown and earn that third star. But some things are going to have to change…

Dishes fly, pots rattle, knives chop, food critics critique, and of course, chefs  fall in love. There is but one twist in the plot that you don’t see simmering hours before it breaks a boil. Cooper tries to get by with a smirk and a sparkle of his baby blues, but viewers don’t buy what he’s selling. The complicated menus and procedures sound foreign on his tongue, and the clash between modern and outdated methods, which was interesting for a few seconds, is never really resolved.

When you’re attempting to make a film that keeps company with culinary greats like Babette’s Feast, Big Night, and even Ratatouille, or last year’s exceptional Chef, you need to keep it real and tasty. Worse than bland, Burnt is unsavory. I’m surprised the Weinsteins are serving it up for public consumption. The cinematic health department would close it down.

Rated R

One hour 40 minutes

Get times and tickets at Fandango.com.

https://youtu.be/IiGJlUVQDGk

BURNT Review: Bradley Cooper’s Performance is Half-Baked