The Menu is a satirical black comedy that critiques contemporary cinema analysis. In the film, a young couple played by Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult travel to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant owned by a sinister chef played by Ralph Fiennes.
On the surface, The Menu appears to be another so-called “elevated horror film,” catering to movie snobs who demand something deeper from their entertainment. But as the film progresses it is revealed that pretentious cinephiles and critics are actually the butt of all the jokes.
The film even concludes with a cheeseburger being the key to the heroine’s escape. The cheeseburger is the perfect metaphor for a “crowd-pleasing blockbuster film.” The only time the chef actually looked happy was when he was breaking into the food industry and making burgers. Many filmmakers are inspired to become filmmakers because of big blockbusters, even if they choose to make quirky indie gems eventually.
Coincidentally, I came across an interview with Joel Schumacher after the premier of 1995’s Batman Forever. Many of the views discussed in the interview sound uncannily similar to the opinions of those who criticize contemporary superhero movies. In the video Schumacher gives a nuanced and witty response to critics of Batman Forever— comparing the film to a satisfying hamburger and saying that Hollywood is like a menu of different films.
While I don’t care for Schumacher’s Batman films, I have to admire his attitude. Overall, I’d say that comic book films have largely improved since the 90s. Some of the best comic book films are colorful, humorous, pop-culture operas. If superhero movies are not to our particular taste we always have the option of consuming something else. And if you’re in the mood for a popcorn flick, there’s a great array to choose from. So go enjoy The Mario Movie, Dungeons and Dragons, or Barbie and just have some fun!
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