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Product Description Product DescriptionTODAY'S SPECIAL, a heartwarming comedy with culinary flavor, tells the story of Samir (Aasif Mandvi, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Proposal), a sous chef who dreams of becoming the head chef at an upscale Manhattan restaurant. When he is passed over for a promotion, he impulsively quits and tells his co-worker Carrie (Jess Weixler, Teeth) that he intends to go to Paris and apprentice under a master French chef. But dreams must be put aside after his estranged father, Hakim (Harish Patel, Run, Fat Boy, Run), has a heart attack and Samir is forced to take over Tandoori Palace, the nearly bankrupt family restaurant in Jackson Heights. Samir's mother, Farrida (legendary cookbook writer Madhur Jaffrey), is consumed with trying to find a wife for her son, while Samir is trying to master Indian cooking to salvage the family business. Luckily, he crosses paths with Akbar (Naseeruddin Shah, Monsoon Wedding), a taxi driver, passionate chef and worldly raconteur. Akbar inspires Samir and teaches him to trust his senses more than recipes; to stop measuring his life, and to start truly living it. With Akbar's guidance, Samir has a chance to rediscover his heritage and his passion for life through the enchanting art of cooking Indian food.Special FeaturesDeleted ScenesCooking VideoInterview With the WritersRecipe from Madhur Jaffrey Review Directed with verve by David Kaplan from Aasif Mandvi and Jonathan Bines exceptional screenplay, TODAY'S SPECIAL stars Mandvi as a sous-chef at a Manhattan restaurant whose plans to head to Paris for further culinary study are derailed after his father suffers a heart attack and he must take over the family restaurant in Queens.Imaginative, warm and witty, the film, inspired by Mandvi's prize-winning play Sakina's Restaurant, is an irresistible delight, its theatrical roots vanishing amid a gracefully cinematic evocation of life in Jackson Heights, a venerable Queens neighborhood with an inviting human scale and grand rooftop vistas of the New York skyline. It is alive with a screen full of captivating characters, all written with affection and exquisitely played by a raft of fine actors.TODAY'S SPECIAL is a gem of wide appeal, richly deserving of finding an audience. --Los Angeles TimesAasif Mandvi [has] cooked up a feel-good fable about a talented cook and second-generation Indian, who discovers his destiny and own version of the American Dream when he takes over his father's run-down Tandoori Palace restaurant. While it tracks familiar themes of generational clashes in immigrant families, upward mobility and Old World vs. New World values, Today's Special does so with vigor and a pleasing sense of comedy. Not hurting matters for foreign and Indian film devotees, the film features two icons of Indian cinema, Madhur Jaffrey and Naseeruddin Shah. --New York Daily NewsThe film, like a great meal, leaves you wanting more. --Hollywood ReporterAasif Mandvi [has] cooked up a feel-good fable about a talented cook and second-generation Indian, who discovers his destiny and own version of the American Dream when he takes over his father s run-down Tandoori Palace restaurant. While it tracks familiar themes of generational clashes in immigrant families, upward mobility and Old World vs. New World values, Today s Special does so with vigor and a pleasing sense of comedy. Not hurting matters for foreign and Indian film devotees, the film features two icons of Indian cinema, Madhur Jaffrey and Naseeruddin Shah. --New York Daily NewsThe film, like a great meal, leaves you wanting more. --Hollywood Reporter
A**T
"Today's Special": A Cinematic Treat
Most of the films in the same genre as "Today's Special" Today's Special (Indian-Pakistani immigrant/2nd generation) bravely address important issues, for example, interracial romance/marriage ("Bend it Like Beckham", "Bhaji on the Beach"). All of them highlight, often in quite serious ways, the tension between immigrant parents and their children ("East is East"). Watching these films is generally accompanied with a certain amount of malaise at the worst and deep introspection at the least. (Allow me to explain.) This is because most Indian/Pakistani immigrant films make it their moral responsibility to explore, again and again and in serious ways, immigrant issues which resonate, on a very personal level with many viewers. The result: viewers like myself (2nd generation Indian) are forced to deliberate said issues. While contemplation of one's community and one's self is a noble activity, it can become quite a chore when one simply wants to enjoy a film. After watching all immigrant/2nd generation Indian-Pakistani films since "Mississippi Masala", I am frankly tired of thinking about interracial marriage and societal expectations ("Monsoon Wedding"). For one, I've thought about these issues enough, thank you very much, and two, when these issues are portrayed on the big screen, their portrayal has become more and more formulaic. Can't I just watch a 'feel-good' film about my community, laugh a little and call it a night? Why must I be bombarded with issue after immigrant issue? If you are like me or if you are tired of the formulaic, often overly serious/emotional films about immigrant experiences then you WILL LOVE "Today's Special"! Don't get me wrong, it addresses immigrant issues but not in a formulaic, uncomfortably serious or boring way. The film really does promise and deliver a good time, good laughs and a light-hearted feeling throughout. "The Daily Show's Aasif Mandvi is nothing less than hilarious; Naseerrudin Shah gives a stellar performance and is as funny as his co-stars; Harish Patel and Madhur Jaffrey make a very comedic couple. Last but not least, the film revolves around something which we all love, food! Your mouth will water and your heart will laugh! I am happy I got to see this film in the theatre and I am very happy it is coming out on DVD! I can see myself popping this film into my dvd player any day of the week when I want to smile, laugh and stoke the digestive fire!
T**F
Delightful
A very pleasant movie for family or date night. No car chases or explosions. Young love (no sex), overcoming obstacles, eventual triumph. Oh, and food! Class, consider the parallels to Cinderella; here, of course, the fairy godmother is male, but he does know magic.
K**R
Fun movie, but amazingly no subtitles!
It would've been helpful to have SDH subtitles, especially with the heavily-accented English...
A**6
Very enjoyable movie
*SPOILER ALERT*This is a great movie my wife and I very much enjoy.Aasif Mandavi plays a chef, Samir, who is a talented if less than creative sous chef at a prime New York restaurant. He expects to be head chef at his bosses' new restaurant, which is set to open soon. Instead, the owner chooses a much younger, "hipper" chef for the top job, pissing him off. In the meanwhile, some Indian stereotypes abound (traditional family, mother trying to arrange his marriage, etc.), but they are portrayed adroitly and with humor. This movie is good at humor at its own expense.A family emergency results in Samir taking responsibility and temporarily running his family's Indian restaurant, which is tired and in disrepair. Samir reluctantly takes the reins, and Naseeruddin Shah as Akbar, and Jess Wexler, as Carrie, serve as his muses. What transpires is a feel good comedy.
D**A
Comfort Food
"Today's Special" stars Aasif Mandvi (of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart') as Samir, a sous chef at a top Manhattan restaurant. His dream is to one day be head of his own upscale eatery. Written by Mandvi for the stage and adapted for the screen, "Special" is a watchable, heart-felt comedy. The storyline is cliché (son abandons family's old-world customs but ultimately returns) and the ending predictable, yet Mandvi and his characters are quite affable and charming, particularly Akbar (wonderfully played by Naseeruddin Shah), a grizzled NY cab driver and former cook who helps Samir and becomes a source of wisdom. The film was released in theaters in 2010, but very limited. So I didn't see it then. Though I'm glad I found it here on Amazon. This is a fun film with plenty of warmth. You can almost smell the garam masala spices.
A**R
Add some masala to your soul
I absolutely loved this movie. Before watching it I used to buy expensive meats from pompous butchers in NYC. Now thanks to the movie I discovered the used meat market and get huge discounts on myRestaurants meat. Also I never imagined how big of a difference it would make using live chickens rather than prepared ones. Truly inspiring. My guests have no idea how but they all say the quality and value of my food has increased dramatically. This movie truly is the spice of life!
I**I
Wonderful movie
Great dvd - great message and good movie to share with your family
L**R
Charming Indie film
This movie was an unexpected charmer! It's the story of a second generation east Indian sous chef, whose mother keeps trying to arrange a marriage for him. He expects to get a promotion as Executive chef of his own restaurant. But they tell him he doesn't have the passion they're looking for. So he quits, and decides to go to Paris to study under a master. Then his immigrant father, whose ethnic restaurant is failing, has a heart attack. Our disgruntled hero, whose knowledge of the cuisine of his heritage is limited, is forced to ask for help from a cab driver who claims to have superb cooking skills. In the mix is a girl from the restaurant from which he resigned, and the characters who hang out at his father's restaurant. I loved the heart and soul of this movie. I'm a life coach, and there were some very believable and tender moments. Yes, the plot was a bit predictable, but the humanity of the characters and their interrelationships drew me in. If you're tired of some of Hollywood's overly self-conscious attempts to be "relevant," give this one a try. It's a "little movie that could."
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