Today's Special (2010)

81% of critics liked it
(31 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(1,426 ratings)

Samir (Aasif Mandvi, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, THE LAST AIRBENDER) is 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 lets his co-worker Carrie (Jess Weixler, TEETH) know that he intends to go… More Samir (Aasif Mandvi, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, THE LAST AIRBENDER) is 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 lets his co-worker Carrie (Jess Weixler, TEETH) know that he intends to go to Paris and apprentice under a master French chef. Dreams must be put aside though after his 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 relationship with his parents and his heritage is immediately put to the test. He has been estranged from his father since the death of his older brother, and his mother Farrida, (played by legendary cookbook writer and actor, Madhur Jaffrey), is consumed with finding a wife for her remaining son. While Samir is being forced to forsake his dreams, he is desperately trying to master Indian cooking to salvage the family business. Luckily, he crosses paths with Akbar, a taxi driver, passionate chef, and worldly raconteur (portrayed by the icon of Indian cinema, Naseeruddin Shah, MONSOON WEDDING). 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. -- (C) Official Site

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: David Kaplan
Written By: Jonathan Bines, Aasif Mandvi
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 19, 2010 Limited
On DVD: Sep 20, 2011
Studio: Inimitable Pictures

Critic Reviews

, New York Daily News
This full, sweet comedy, adapted by star Aasif Mandvi from an Off-Broadway play, has a city flavor and a wry take on familial obligations.
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
The film, like a great meal, leaves you wanting more.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
An irresistible delight.
Mike Hale, New York Times
Hits all the sentimental clichés of the genre as if they were stops on the No. 7 train.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
It's an easy movie to watch, and yet it's just as easy to forget or skip entirely.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
Charming and mouthwatering...
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Sometimes you want a meal that tastes exactly like you expect it's going to taste. "Today's Special" is one of those meals.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Carries the day with charm and a strong sense of humanity -- and a delightful tone.
Michele Kenner, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The movie is comfortably familiar and plays to the palate of those who don't want too much spice in their foodie comedies.
Sarah Boslaugh, Playback:stl
You've seen all the elements of this film before, but writer/star Aasif Mandvi ... gives them a fresh spin and the result is a pleasant evening's entertainment.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
Like a meatloaf or pot roast dinner, "Today's Special" revisits familiar, appealing territory.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
So slight that it almost evaporates while you're watching it...but if there's nothing really special here, it's not unappetizing fare.
John P. McCarthy, Boxoffice Magazine
Those with even modestly adventuresome cinematic palates will have their appetites whetted before exiting unsatisfied.
Nora Lee Mandel, Film-Forward.com
[C]harmingly recalls earlier enjoyable finding-family-through-food-preparation movies. . .[that] did not include an Indian-American family. [Shah] positively twinkles.
James Verniere, Boston Herald
But it's fun. It's about food, in this case Indian food, and the actors make it work, even when the cliches overpower the masala.
John Hartl, Seattle Times
Shah is a first-rate scene-stealer, Patel and Jaffrey effortlessly suggest parental chemistry, while Mandvi, best-known for the eccentric touch he brings to Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show," tones down the silliness to make a credible leading man.