Parents' Guide to

Chef Flynn

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Some salty talk in easygoing docu about talented young chef.

Movie NR 2018 82 minutes
Chef Flynn Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 12+

Best for older kids

Sorry, but I have to disagree with Common Sense Media's age rating on this one. While the film does teach some good lessons, and the relationship between Flynn and his mom is sweet at times, there is quite a lot of cursing for this to be appropriate for a ten year old. The f-bomb is dropped at least ten different times throughout the film (particularly in the restaurant opening night scene), and at one point, Flynn calls his new restaurant a "s---show." If your kid is mature and really loves cooking, then this may be a good choice. However, this documentary isn't like the (mostly) squeaky clean stuff you find on Food Network. Just thought I'd share my opinion, as CSM seems to brush off the swearing as if it is barely present in the film.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much swearing
age 16+

Lots of F bombers

It’s too bad they couldn’t just bleep them out. Instead they went the opposite route and even transcribed it on the screen.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much swearing

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Offering a portrait of how far talent can take someone when it's coupled with dedication and support, this earnest documentary plays like a tribute to stage parents. Though Flynn is obviously talented, obsessed, and possessed with the kind of energy and focus that separate a dilettante from a pro, it's clear that he also struck it rich in the parent department. His mom is both willing and (financially) able to outfit his bedroom like a professional kitchen, homeschool him so that he can concentrate fully on food and flavors, and hook him up with the type of people who write New Yorker profiles. But Chef Flynn shies away from digging into the way that Flynn's many advantages gave him an in to the culinary world in favor of showing off his singular upbringing and remarkable accomplishments.

And, make no mistake, they are remarkable. When he was barely old enough to see over the countertop, Flynn was already interning at a sophisticated NYC restaurant and turning out multi-course dinners in his mom's Los Angeles living room. The beautiful painterly shots of the spare, vivid plates that Flynn sends out at these dinners are some of the loveliest moments of the film -- viewers may want to watch with a snack or have a take-out menu on hand. It's certainly a thrill to watch this young man grow in confidence and move toward his dream -- but it's also a shame that the movie is content merely to witness his rise, rather than draw larger conclusions about power, privilege, or the toll that an exacting dream can take on a life.

Movie Details

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