The Kitchen
(Warner Bros. Pictures/New Line Cinema)
By Lucas Allen
You may not notice it from the trailer, but “The Kitchen” is based on a graphic novel published by DC/Vertigo, though don’t expect any superheroes showing up. The film is a mob drama in the tradition of Martin Scorsese, but with the main theme of female empowerment. It’s also the directorial debut of Andrea Berloff the Oscar-nominated writer of Straight Outta Compton.
This movie certainly has all the right ingredients, so what went wrong?
In 1978 New York City, the area of Hell’s Kitchen is ruled by the Irish mob, controlled by the kindly old Helen O’Carroll (Margo Martindale). When their husbands Jimmy (Brian D’Arcy James), Kevin (James Badge Dale) and Rob (Jeremy Bobb) end up behind bars, Kathy (Melissa McCarthy), Ruby (Tiffany Haddish) and Claire (Elisabeth Moss) hope to get some extra money from Helen and her family. However, they ended up with very little, so they decide to work harder for themselves by collecting the debts around the neighborhood until sexist informant “Little” Jackie Quinn (Myk Watford) threatens to put their operation on hold permanently.
Not to be deterred, the wives, with the help of Claire’s new boyfriend Gabriel (Domhnall Gleeson), put themselves in charge of the mob in a single snap. They even took over some construction ownership that puts them at odds with the head of Brooklyn’s Italian mob, Alfonso Coretti (Bill Camp). Everything seems to be going smooth for the ladies until their husbands are released early from prison, leading to more drama and more bloodshed.
The movie certainly has a good story with talented people working in front and behind the camera. But all that is squandered by the script’s lack of any development and the final product’s issues with pacing. There could’ve been time more spent with the main characters along with any interesting points about the history of this particular mob. Instead, the director decides to speed up the process sacrificing both drama and entertainment for a few extra bucks at the box office.
The tone is all over the place, with the dramatic parts getting unintentional laughs and the comedy awkwardly cutting to the drama. It’s a case of haphazard editing and direction equaling to someone making a poorly constructed level in “Super Mario Maker.” Worst of all, the movie tries to one-up the other 75 percent of the film by having a third-act twist that doesn’t mesh with the rest of it. Now you got a movie that can’t figure out the right structure let alone tone, but then ends up being a confusing mess of a plot.
One thing you can’t take away from this the film is some of the stellar acting from the leads. Both McCarthy and Haddish wonderfully shed their comedic personas to turn in some serious performances. Moss is excellent as always in spite of the script’s mishandling of her character development. Rapper/actor Common has a small supporting role as an FBI agent, but his development is also under utilized to the point that he could be cut from the film and it wouldn’t matter.
“The Kitchen” is a highly mediocre mob picture that could’ve been better, but doesn’t amount to anything other than its leading stars. It’s probably worth a rental just to see good actors trying to act their way through a nothing film. Other than that, stay home and watch The Godfather for the hundredth time.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: R (for violence, language throughout, and some sexual content)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 2 Stars (Out of Four)
