Many people go through life thinking, “I don’t want to get old,” but what if you’re already 40 years old? That’s the question that director Pietro Loprieno tackles in his latest film, 40 Years Young. The Mexican movie (called Cuarentones in Spanish) features a chef named César (Erick Elias) on the cusp of turning 40 when his whole life is flipped upside down.
– 40 Years Young review doesn’t contain any spoilers –
40 Years Young is a Big-hearted Movie Filled with Twists
The movie has some strong performances by its lead actors, especially Elias as César, who carries most of the film’s emotional weight on his shoulders. But there are several issues tackled by the ease of a director in tune with his art in the movie that make it compelling to recommend overall.
The story follows César as he navigates this new world order where things aren’t what they seem like they should be — whether it be at home or work. The film also explores themes of loneliness and ageing as César tries to reconnect with his wife while also navigating the waters of being single again after so many years together. This is where we get some of the best moments in 40 Years Young.
40 Years Young is a film about a man who’s at a crossroads in his life, and it doesn’t shy away from the fact that he could go either way. The Mexican movie is set in Cancún, making for a perfect locale for this story to unfold.
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40 Years Young Finds Its Strength in the Performances
The chef as the protagonist is friendly and charming with everyone he meets; he’s hardworking and dedicated to his craft, but most importantly, he loves cooking so much that it almost seems like an illness for him. Erick Elias gives an excellent performance as César, who struggles with many things throughout the movie: He has problems with his wife and son; he doesn’t know what he wants from life; he can’t seem to find love.
The story also has some great twists and turns and hilarious moments throughout. All in all, I’d highly recommend checking this one out if you’re looking for something different than what Netflix typically offers up these days!
The film is beautifully shot with gorgeous scenery throughout. And although it’s not a documentary on cooking, you can tell that the filmmakers did their homework when it comes to food preparation and presentation.
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40 Years Young is Packed with Great Moments
This fascinating character piece takes its time setting up its backstory before diving into its central conflict. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — it just means you have to be patient with it at first. By the time everything comes together, though, you won’t want to miss any moment of this emotional rollercoaster ride.
The film is a mix of drama and comedy, with some romance thrown in for good measure. It’s an exciting mix that works well together. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments throughout the movie, but there are also moments where your heart will be breaking because you can’t believe how awful some people can be (including César himself).
The acting is excellent, especially Erick Elias as César, who does a fantastic job portraying the different emotions that run through his character during this difficult time in his life (anger, sadness, etc.). He’s convincing from start to finish — even when he’s being ridiculous!
40 Years Young is a movie full of surprises and turns that makes it feel like real life unfolding on the screen instead of fiction. There are no special effects or crazy action sequences, just real people dealing with real issues in their lives — which makes it all the more relatable.
Stream it or Skip it?
It’s an excellent film with a lot of heart and humour that will appeal to anyone who enjoys movies like Chef or The Hundred-Foot Journey. My favourite thing about this movie is that it never feels like an advertisement for restaurants or chefs (like some other films) even though it’s all about food. Instead, it focuses on the joy of cooking and family and friendship. The characters are all very relatable, with real struggles that make their stories feel genuine and heartfelt.
40 Years Young is streaming on Netflix.