Today's Special (2009)

In this super-feel-good foodie comedy, young Manhattan chef Samir rediscovers his heritage and his passion for life through the enchanting art of cooking Indian food.

Director:

David Kaplan

Writers:

Aasif Mandvi (screenplay), Jonathan Bines (screenplay),

Stars:

Aarti Mann, Kevin Corrigan, Dean Winters

Cast

Credited cast:
Aarti Mann	...	Henna (as Aarti Majmudar)
Kevin Corrigan	...	Stanton
Dean Winters	...	Steve
Aasif Mandvi	...	Samir
Jess Weixler	...	Carrie
Naseeruddin Shah	...	Akbar
Ajay Naidu	...	Munnamia
Amir Arison	...	Dr. Semaan
Kumar Pallana	...	Regular #2
Kevin Breznahan	...	Freddie
Harish Patel	...	Hakim
Madhur Jaffrey	...	Farrida
Chloe Cmarada	...	Woman #2
Ranjit Chowdhry	...	Regular #1
Sylvia Kauders	...	Restaurant Patron

Storyline

Samir is a sous chef in Manhattan. He quits when he's not promoted - his boss says his cooking lacks soul. He decides to find an unpaid internship in Paris, but his father suffers a heart attack keeping him home for a few weeks. Samir must run the family's failing Indian restaurant in Queens. He can't cook Indian food, so things get dire when the chef quits: Samir tracks down Akbar, a cabbie who claims to have cooked for British royalty in Bombay. Akbar cooks with mind, heart, and gut - and offers philosophy as well. With the help of Carrie, whom he met at the Manhattan restaurant, Samir begins to enjoy the work. But will his father approve, and if not, what then?

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Plot Keywords:

chef | cook | restaurant | cooking | indian food | 

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Taglines:

Life Has No Recipe

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 November 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

7 to the Palace

Filming Locations:

Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$90,639 (USA) (19 November 2010)

Gross:

$317,831 (USA) (10 December 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Inimitable Pictures, Sweet180

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Madhur Jaffrey, who plays Samir's mother, is a celebrated expert in Indian cuisine, and the author of many cookbooks.

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Quotes

Akbar: They don't know what they want. They only know what they've had!

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Connections

References Aradhana (1969)

User Reviews

Excellent cast, story and direction

Today's Special is a movie with a great mix of humor, family, romance and humanity. It has nothing that I consider objectionable but I also think that it has very little that will appeal to kids. Although the end is a bit predictable and a bit slow at times (thus making it not a 10), it's one of the most entertaining films I've seen this year (and I've seen a lot of movies this year).

I would like to know why I don't remember seeing Naseeruddin Shah (who plays the memorable character Akbar (the cab driver/chef))in a movie before. He's the best of an excellent cast.

I found myself caring a great deal for the main character Samir (Assif Mandiv) which doesn't happen often in most movies I see (even the good ones). Today's Special centers entirely on the characters and the story. If your looking for a movie with lots of computer generated images (CGI) and/or other special effects and/or stunts and/or violence and/or action and/or sex, go see something else.

It was nice to see a movie that doesn't stereotype Muslims as terrorists and that many in the audience clapped for when it was over. I think most adults who enjoy a few very good laughs and a good story will enjoy this movie a great deal.