Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Unflinching look at legendary chef; some language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Love, Charlie: The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
LOVE, CHARLIE: THE RISE AND FALL OF CHEF CHARLIE TROTTER begins with a telling admission the renowned chef makes to an interviewer: "If it weren't for the employees and the customers, the restaurant business would be the greatest business in the world." And if his views aren't crystal clear, he adds, "I hate people." A certain number of his valid insights mix with egomania to produce such sentiments as, "the customer is rarely right and that's why you must seize control of the circumstances and dominate every last detail to guarantee that they're going to have a better time than if they controlled it." His obsession with maintaining that control ruins a couple of marriages and though his kitchen staff seem mostly terrified of him, they also learn a lot under his guidance. His mania for control and perfectionism helped put Chicago on the map as a world capital of culinary innovation and excellence, but at a cost to himself and all he touched. We hear from such famed chefs as Grant Achatz, Emeril Lagasse, and Wolfgang Puck on Trotter's accomplishments and influence.
Is It Any Good?
This absorbing documentary is likely to appeal to teens and families who enjoy cooking. Love, Charlie: The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter is an unflinching look at a singular personality in the culinary sphere, demonstrating the cutthroat side of a rarefied world that people of an ordinary income level are unlikely to experience or even think about. His success seemed earned given the hard work he put in, yet his unforgiving nature makes it seem as if his life was missing the many benefits that kindness to others can bring. Trotter's creativity and devotion to his craft are admirable, but his cruelty and self-regard make him unlikable. Even when he makes generous gestures to those he'd cut down before, it all feels like too little too late.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the kind of person Trotter was. How did the mix of a rigorous work ethic and an abrasive and abusive nature affect his career and the people who worked for him?
Should we forgive talented people when they aren't kind just because they're talented? Why or why not?
Do you think Trotter really needed to be mean to his employees to get their best efforts? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 18, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : August 1, 2024
- Director : Rebecca Halpern
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 3, 2024
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