Director: Jon Favreau

Starring: Jon Favreau, John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara

Rating: R

TRT: 115 mins

Calling all foodies and film fans – if you’re craving an introspective story about family, fear, and finding the strength to follow a dream, Jon Favreau serves it up in “Chef.”

Though he’s most recently known for his work helming big budget blockbusters like “Iron Man” and “Iron Man 2″ Favreau steps outside the expected with “Chef” – a lighthearted comedy about a man’s personal journey to reignite a passion, and reconnect with his son.

“Chef” follows the story of Carl Casper (Favreau), who decides to start a food truck business after losing his job at a high profile restaurant. The journey takes Casper across the country, bringing new experiences, challenges, and the opportunity to spend some overdue time with his son, played by Emjay Anthony. While the progression of the father-son relationship is both heart-felt and entertaining most of the time, it deflates during the few moments where Favreau fails to convey emotional specificity. Instead, the film’s strong suit is found in the chemistry between Favreau and friends John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, and feisty food critic arch-nemeses played by Oliver Platt. The comedy continues down to the star-studded cameos, both Russell Peters and Amy Sedaris brought their chops to the table for short scenes that are likely to be fan-favorites.

Comedy aside, the film’s undeniable charm lies in the main character’s narrative, that in seems to parallel Favreau’s life, resulting in a rewarding movie-going experience that feels more personal than the blockbuster behemoths it’s competing against this summer  “Chef” feels like a flavorful return to his days as an indie darling and successfully straddles the line between star-studded summer flick and low budget indie film. resulting in a relatable, feel-good movie that will leave you asking for seconds.

“Chef” opens in theatres May 9th, 2014.

As a fan of the Muppets for all of my life, I could not have loved “Muppets Most Wanted,” opening this Friday, any more. Silly, fun and clever, it’s a return to the brand of Muppet humor that I grew up with, my favorite Muppet movie being “The Great Muppet Caper.” And while I love Jason Segel, I much prefer the human/ Muppet interaction in this installment of the franchise. Ricky Gervais is hilarious playing “Number Two” to evil Kermit imposter Constantine, the world’s number one criminal. The pair’s duet “I’m Number One” is a true, old school movie musical show stopper with Gervais and Constantine singing, dancing, and having a ball.

I also can’t say enough good things about Ty Burrell. Since I’m not a fan of “Modern Family,” I’m not the most familiar with his work, but Burrell steals every scene he is in as French Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon. Tina Fey, Danny Trejo, Ray Liotta and Jemaine Clement round out the human cast and, in true Muppet fashion, there are additional cameos to boot.

I had the pleasure of screening the film sitting next to a seven year old girl and she was having almost as much fun as I was. The thing that is so much fun about “MMW” is that they’re not afraid to be get silly without being stupid. All in all, it’s just a really good time.

“Muppets Most Wanted” opens in theaters everywhere this Friday!

American Authors’ debut album, “Oh, What A Life,” has every right to sound like a freshman album…but it doesn’t. Maybe that’s because this band has been developing its sound since 2006.

Over those eight years they’ve come to rest comfortably on their stadium pop rock sound, but they’ve stayed alert. There are elements of bluegrass reminiscent of Mumford & Sons, and even straight up country in the fabric of this album, but it’s doesn’t sound experimental, and most importantly, it fits well. With heavy influence from All-American Rejects and OneRepublic, American Authors turns out great, radio-ready songs, and stays that course through all 11 tracks on this record. No lulls, no random instrumentals, no uncomfortable ballads. 

Now a LOT of bands sound like OneRepublic these days. But the thing that keeps American Authors from sounding like copycats is their rock edge. Songs like “Home” and “Heart Of Stone” really bring this album’s energy back up right when you start to get too comfortable. The guitar-driven “Home” has a feel that reminds me of Queen, and lead singer Zac Barnett’s vocal prowess really shines through. To me, though, the bright star of this album is “Heart Of Stone.” This is the kind of song you can’t help but dance to, with a broken down bridge that begs to be shouted out with friends, and anyone who knows me knows I love a good, song-ending descant (that’s a real music term, kids, look it up). It’s harder-rocking songs like these that I keep listening to, and hope to see more of on their next release.

This is your album if you want to keep energy high and stay motivated.

Listen if you like Imagine Dragons, Mumford & Sons, OneRepublic, All-American Rejects, The Fratellis…and Queen.

American Authors’ “Oh, What A Life” comes out March 4th, 2014 on Island Def Jam.

It’s mostly harmless, except for the fact that once the hipster culture has chosen something to envelop, to make one of their own, it becomes such a vital part of their culture that it is associated entirely with hipsters. To an optimist’s eye, they have simply adopted or cherished it. To a cynic’s, they have stolen it.

Which brings me to PBR. This is going to be a bit personal for me since I think PBR is the best cheap, trashy beer you can find. Since it’s light and doesn’t taste like tepid garbage water, it is the perfect beer for drinking games, camping, or a casual drink after physical labor. It was a man drink: popular in the Deep South or New Mexico where men drank it after a hard day of construction or hunting, swigging it from their porch chairs.

So why did hipsters take it? They’re not day laborers; they’re photographers and musicians with obnoxious facial hair and skinny jeans. The answer is the same reason they latch onto things like American Spirit or Converse sneakers: they are enamored with the old, rare, and obscure. And so they took PBR, the sweat-of-the-man’s-brow beer, and brought it to indie music clubs and poetry sessions. Because it’s obscure and odd.

Now PBR is permanently a hipster beer, and the simple fact of the matter is that there are many other beers hipsters could have and should have taken instead. Here are five.

5. Pacifico

The Beer: A Mexican pilsner, Pacifico is essentially a slightly different, lesser known Corona. It’s tasty and sold in every Mexican restaurant, and it’s one of those beers that are on many menus and many taps yet you rarely order it. It’s there to be there.
Why Hipsters Should Take It: It’s almost-not-quite popularity makes it ideal for hipsters. You see it in many establishments but rarely in people’s hands. Holding one could make one feel original. It’s just obscure for Hipsters to fall in love with, yet easy enough to find so they don’t have to put in the effort to get it. Perfect.

4. Midas Touch

The Beer: A delicious golden ale infused with honey and saffron. Crafted by Dogfish Head, it is one of the lesser known beers, difficult to find, and comes in four packs instead of six.
Why Hipsters Should Take It: Four packs instead of six? Quirky…!

3. Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat

The Beer: a fruity wheat beer with artificial flavoring. It’s light, meh-tasting, and hard to find outside of a liquor store.
Why Hipsters Should Take It: It tastes exactly like Fruity Pebbles cereal. Seriously, try it. There are forums about this. And what better way for a hipster to strike up a conversation? They could swill the beer around like wine, take a sip, and say something pompous like, “Fred Flintstone called, and he wants his breakfast back.”

2. Shiner Bock

The Beer: An amber beer brewed entirely in Shiner, Texas. Smooth and tasty, it is one of the most popular beers in Texas.
Why Hipsters Should Take It: If hipsters are good at anything, it’s taking something beloved and making it their own. Shiner Bock is THE Texan beer, its taste and packaging so American you can easily imagine a cowboy drinking it. Pretentious twenty-year olds watching Juno are practically the opposite of rugged Texans drinking Bock. The irony is too much to pass up.

1. Natty Bo (Natural Bohemian)

The Beer: cheap and almost tasteless, this beer is easy to find and extremely popular in Baltimore. It is estimated that when the Ravens won the recent Super Bowl there were enough empty cans of these to choke a blue whale.
Why Hipsters Should Take It: It’s essentially PBR in quality and availability, so the transition for them would be easy. Yet Natty Bo gets the number one slot because of how intensely it is loved by its specific fan base. Shiner Bock is infamous in Texas but Natty Bo is a staple in just one city: Baltimore. This is the definition of a niche beer. Although this beer is sold everywhere in the states, it’s not a common sight to see anyone drinking this outside of Baltimore or at least Maryland.

As you can probably tell from the bitterness of this article, I believe that hipsters are only eclipsed by George Lucas in the art of ruining things, and nothing could get Baltimore in a bigger stir than seeing hipsters drink their beer. It is an ideal chance for a hipster to feel cultured as well, much like how people return from South Africa donning forty beaded necklaces or wear Hawaiian shirts in Hawaii. Baltimore and cities like LA are worlds apart and a western hipster drinking a beloved Baltimore beer in order to feel and appear well-traveled is pretty much the entire hipster movement in a nutshell. For this reason, Natty Bo should be the new hipster beer. I’ll probably get death threats from some of my friends (Ravens fans) for this, but it’s worth it just so I can drink a PBR again in peace.

They’re all tropes of being in your 20′s.

Nobody ever said ages 20- 29 were going to be easy. Although they do come with the perks of fast metabolisms, energy galore, and mornings after nights of drinking where you wake from a drunken slumber feeling totally functional, it’s not all fun and (drinking) games. The 20′s are a highly transitional time that can be tricky to navigate.

We get it. Finding a job is hard enough when you’re not in the process of finding yourself.

To make these years of your burgeoning adulthood a little easier to swallow, we’ve compiled a list of movies about, inspired by, or featuring characters who are experiencing the trials and tribulations of being a 20-something. All of which are highly recommended if I do say so myself.

20 Movies To Watch In Your 20′s

1. “500 Days Of Summer.” Directed by Marc Webb. 

Synopsis: An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman who doesn’t believe true love exists, and the young man who falls for her.

It’s hard not to fall head-over-heels for this tale of love, loss, and confusion. We’ve all been there. So, are you a Tom, or a Summer?

2. “Reality Bites.” Directed by Ben Stiller.

Synopsis: Generation X Graduates face life after college with a filmmaker looking for work and love in Houston.

Disillusionment. Disappointments. Identity Crises. It’s all a part of being a 20-something, and all in this cult-classic 90′s flick.

3. “Frances, Ha.” Directed by Noah Baumbach.

Synopsis: A story that follows a New York woman (who doesn’t really have an apartment), apprentices for a dance company (though she’s not really a dancer), and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as their possible reality dwindles.

Finally, a film that accurately captures the cringe-worthy awkwardness that comes with the living situations, career situations, and overall inadequacies that often make up the majority your 20′s.

4. “Tiny Furniture.” Directed by Lena Dunham.

Synopsis: About a recent college grad who returns home while she tries to figure out what to do with her life.

Writer/Director/Actress Lena Dunham became the voice of a generation with her honest, and highly confessional interpretation of life post-college that often times feels more like a diary entry than your average coming of age screenplay.

5. “Good Will Hunting.” Directed by Gus Van Sant.

Synopsis: Will Hunting, a janitor at MIT, has a gift for mathematics but needs help from a psychologist to find direction in his life.

The perfect movie about finding who you are, embracing it, and “seeing about a girl.”

 6. “Office Space.” Directed by Mike Judge.

Synopsis: Comedic tale of company workers who hate their jobs and decide to rebel against their greedy boss.

“Office Space” is a flick for everyone who’s ever hated their job. (So basically a movie for everyone.)

7. The Graduate.” Directed by Mike Nichols.

Synopsis: Recent college graduate Benjamin Braddock is trapped into an affair with Mrs. Robinson, who happens to be the wife of his father’s business partner and then finds himself falling in love with her daughter, Elaine.

The plight of Benjamin Braddock proves to me the ultimate test of Man VS Penis, in this classic “what do I do now” movie.

8. “Swingers.” Directed by Doug Liman.

Synopsis: Wannabe actors become regulars in the stylish neo-lounge scene; Trent teaches his friend Mike the unwritten rules of the scene.

If you’re 20, living in Los Angeles, and have never seen this, you should immediately re-evaluate your priorities. This Jon Favreau-penned script about LA-actor types is just as funny as it is tragic.

 9. “Into The Wild.” Directed by Sean Penn.

Synopsis: After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.

A true ode to forging your own path. And proof that sometimes that path CAN lead you to an underwear-clad Kristen Stewart…

10. “Manhattan.” Directed by Woody Allen

Synopsis: A divorced New Yorker currently dating a high-schooler brings himself to look for love in the mistress of his best friend instead.

It’s as weird as it sounds, but undeniably enjoyable nonetheless…if nothing else, as a cautionary tale to warn young girls of the perils of older (and sometimes less mature) suitors.

11. “Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion.” Directed by David Mirkin.

Synopsis: Two women get into a lot of trouble when they go to their high school reunion and lie about their lives after twelfth grade.

Highly recommended for anyone debating whether or not they should attend that dreadful high school reunion.

12. “Lost In Translation” Directed by Sofia Coppola.

Synopsis: A faded movie star and a neglected young wife form an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo.

Writer/director Sofia Coppola takes the format of a romantic comedy and turns it on it’s head in “Lost In Translation,” trading the formulaic boy-meets-girl story for a plot line that instead follows a fish-out-of-water-meets-fish-out-of-water narrative.

13. “The Social Network.” Directed by David Fincher.

Synopsis: Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, but is later sued by two brothers who claimed he stole their idea, and the cofounder who was later squeezed out of the business.

Admit it. As a modern-day human in your 20′s, your life revolves around social network activity. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, whichever your poison may be, our social media profiles have become an extension of ourselves. “The Social Network” delves into the fascinating (albeit embellished) story of where it all started.

14. “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” Directed by Woody Allen

Synopsis: Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.

Two different girls. Two different concepts of love. Both looking for adventure. The result? The perfect movie for the wanderlust, the romantic, or the person in the process of questioning their next step in life.

15. “The Devil Wears Prada.” Directed by David Frankel.

Synopsis: A naive young woman comes to New York and scores a job as the assistant to one of the city’s biggest magazine editors, the ruthless and cynical Miranda Priestly.

The perfect film for the underdog who hates their boss, but still endures the torture for a paycheck. She works hard for the money…

16. “He’s Just Not That Into You.” Directed by Ken Kwapis.

Synopsis: The Baltimore-set movie of interconnecting story arcs deals with the challenges of reading or misreading human behavior.

They’re just not that into you. Words that nobody wants to hear, yet a lesson everybody has to learn.

17. “Garden State.” Directed by Zach Braff.

Synopsis: A quietly troubled young man returns home for his mother’s funeral after being estranged from his family for a decade.

The existential journey of a 26-year-old actor/waiter? Yup, that sounds about right…

18.  “Annie Hall.” Directed by Woody Allen.

Synopsis: Neurotic New York comedian Alvy Singer falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall.

For the over-thinker, social situation dissector, or analytical personalities in general, “Annie Hall” is the neurotic examination of a relationship gone-wrong, and Woody Allen at his finest.

19. “The To Do List.” Directed by Maggie Carey.

Synopsis: Feeling pressured to become more sexually experienced before she goes to college, Brandy Klark makes a list of things to accomplish before hitting campus in the fall.

A throwback to the raunchy, corny, and sometimes downright awkward sex comedies of the 80′s & 90′s for the generation who actually enjoyed them.

20. “Steel Magnolias.” Directed by Herbert Ross.

Synopsis: Revolving around Truvy’s Beauty Parlor in a small parish in modern-day Louisiana, “Steel Magnolias” is the story of a close-knit circle of friends whose lives come together there.

Because no matter how young, or old you may be, it’s important to remember where you come from.

…even when it comes to the all important “hall pass.”

In this episode of THEPOPFIX, Erin Darling & Joshua Ovenshire discuss the age of question of  “If you could hook up with any celebrity who would it be” and draft their ultimate hall pass picks in The Hall Pass Fantasy Draft 2013.

Did your MVP’s make the cut?

I was in the audience at this year’s CinemaCon when Vin Diesel took the stage at the Universal presentation, announcing that “Fast 7″ was headed for July 2014 release date, a speedy nine months after “Fast & Furious 6″ was scheduled to hit theaters. Diesel, who was joined by Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Gina Carano, Sung Kang,  Tyrese Gibson, and producer Neal H. Moritz, said there were definite reasons for justifying the quick turn around time for the movie, briefly explained it would be closely connected to “Fast 6,” charismatically promising the audience the seventh installment would be “the biggest one of all.”

Noticeably absent from the Universal presentation was director Justin Lin, helmer of the franchise since it’s third installment. At the time of the convention Lin was furiously working on the finishing touches for “Fast 6″ which was slated to hit theaters the following month, on May 24th, 2013.

Just a few days prior to the convention, Lin told the studio this would be his last time directing a “Fast & Furious” movie due to franchise exhaustion, and differences of agreement on the accelerated timeline for “Fast 7″ according to THR. Lin leaving the franchise eventually made way for horror genre director James Wan to step in and take on directorial duties for “Fast 7″ which went into production in September.

Now that production on the film has halted, Universal is faced with making the difficult decision on how move forward with “Fast 7″ – and the future of the franchise – without fan favorite, Paul Walker.

Though the studio could resume production, replacing Walker with another actor, or adjusting the script to continue the movie without him, the most interesting option on the table involves Universal starting from scratch, which stimulates many a question for film fans, like myself. If  Universal decides to approach this situation by completely starting over, is James Wan still the best choice to direct? Or should the studio consider bringing back Justin Lin? As the director of the last few installments, would Lin be a better fit to wrap up loose ends and plot lines from “Fast 6″ that will now certainly require adjustments when “Fast 7″ goes back into production? Especially if “Fast 7″ ends up being the last chapter of this franchise altogether? And if so, would Lin be interested in returning to the franchise to rework the next installment now that a rushed timeline is no longer an issue?

Either way, Universal has quite the challenge in front of them over the next few weeks, where many important decisions will surely need to be made.

Where do you stand on the matter? Would you be interested in seeing Lin return to the “Fast & Furious” franchise, and how do you think the studio should proceed?

Join the conversation in the comment section below.

Best known for quotable bad dialogue, violent fight scenes, and often credited as the movie that helped launch Patrick Swayze’s career, “Road House” featured Swayze as a badass bouncer with a sensitive side, and a mysterious past.

Though it seemed as if this 1989 movie was made to live and die in the era of campy action movies, word on the street is that MGM is planning to reboot “Road House,” The Wrap even reporting that “The Fast And The Furious” director Rob Cohen is attached to helm the project.

Although Cohen is a veteran director with similar genre films under his belt, does this camp classic need a remake? Would a “Road House” remake survive in the current movie marketplace?