"Hilarious and heartfelt, this Spanish comedy wraps tales of close-knit bonds in a tart shell of slapstick comedy and one-liners, and throws in a tasty bit of international athlete for good measure.
Peppered generously with sardonic humor, Chef’s Special is a boon for fans of Spanish comedies such as Bear Cub and Boystown. Our titular chef, Maxi, has plenty on his plate. In addition to corralling the unpredictable staff at his high-end restaurant and suddenly reuniting with his estranged children, things only get more chaotic with the arrival of a gorgeous and well-known soccer player just down the hall. This celebrity neighbor’s presence sends everyone into a tailspin, from Maxi’s lovesick female roommate to his star-struck sports-fan son. As Maxi and the people in his orbit wrangle with romance and family ties, there are bruised feelings aplenty, and the unexpected introduction of a secret gay affair is enough to whip poor Maxi into more than a few fits of foul-mouthed pique. But through drunken debacles at karaoke bars, confessions on national television, sundry misadventures in new parenthood, and the highly anticipated arrival of a prominent food critic to his restaurant, Maxi must learn to juggle the dynamics his children and other loved ones bring to the table — an act with over-the-top, hilarious results. (Spanish with English subtitles)"
Quoting Alejandro Morales from the 2009 Philadelphia QFEST site.
Chef's Special (Spanish: Fuera de carta) is a Spanish film directed by Nacho García Velilla that centers on homosexuality and the decision to come out. It focuses on men who have had relationships with women to hide their own sexuality, to the point of even having kids. The film also deals with the theme of single parents. It stars Javier Cámara, Benjamín Vicuña, Lola Dueñas, and Fernando Tejero. The film premiered in Spain on April 11, 2008 and was a success in the box office, earning almost 1 million Euros in its first weekend and ending the year as the sixth highest-grossing Spanish film grossing 5,107,626.41 €. It received fourteen award nominations—including two Goya Awards-- winning six of them. The critical reception was not as favorable, receiving negative reviews from important publications like El País, El Mundo, and ABC.
Maxi (Javier Cámara) is the chef and owner of a restaurant, Xantarella, who aspires to win a Michelin Star but is having financial difficulties. He helps Álex (Lola Dueñas), a maître d’ who is desperately looking for a boyfriend. It has been a while since Maxi has come out of the closet and declared his homosexuality. Since then, he left behind his wife
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