Watch American Bistro

American Bistro is a 2019 movie directed by Arthur Diennet and starring himself, Arthur De Larroche and Megan Hensley. The movie narrates the story of a displaced chef named Vance. His journey begins with a whim as he ends up in a small American town full of quirky characters that help him get back on his feet. The film is a unique blend of a character piece, road movie and comedy.

The movie starts with Vance waking up on the side of the road, in a battered truck with only a few possessions. After a brief introduction of his character, he stumbles upon an old and run-down building that used to be a diner. Vance, an amateur cook at best, decides to buy the property and turn it into a restaurant. However, his inexperience with being a chef coupled with an unclear concept on the type of dishes to serve makes it difficult for him to get ahead of the business. Vance soon realizes that he needs some help and hires a couple of locals to assist him. This is where the movie starts to get interesting and his initial plan takes a detour.

As Vance begins to hire people, he begins to assemble a unique cast of personalities. A few notable mentions include a cranky old handyman named George played by Bill Watterson, a beautiful and smart college student named Celene played by Samantha Scaffidi, and a man named Jasper played by Brandon Keener, who claims to have been an astronaut in the famous Apollo moon-landing mission. The seemingly odd group of people welcomes Vance wholeheartedly and helps him revive the boarded-up diner.

One central theme of the movie is friendship, and it’s beautifully showcased. Vance and his crew are like a family and are always there for each other, particularly when each one of them has to face their tough moments. The bonding scenes between Vance and the rest of the cast excels and adds depth to the film’s overall atmosphere. Although the story has some predictable beats, and the jokes have the expected punchline, Vance and the rest of the ensemble cast presents the movie in a more enjoyable and humorous fashion.

The film is shot beautifully, and the visual of the small town is tranquil and peaceful. The cinematography captures the charming and picturesque backdrop seamlessly, which enhances the overall vibe of Americana theme. The camera work on the food shots is particularly impressive, and the attention to detail is evident.

The writing is crisp and subtly tackles deeper topics like mortality, relationships, and self-worth. Meanwhile, the comedy is both witty and slapstick, generating laughs that will brighten up most scenes. The humor is its strongest selling point as it maintains a consistent, lighthearted tone throughout the movie, making it an engaging watch for viewers who crave a feel-good flick.

In terms of performances, Marcel Diennet delivers a charming and endearing portrayal of Vance. He is likable, compassionate and does a great job of conveying the character's vulnerability. Arthur De Larroche plays as Leo, Vance’s friend who also happens to be a cop assigned in the town. Leo provides the perfect counterbalance to Vance’s charisma with his grounded and straight-up attitude. The other cast members also deliver impressive performances, making the movie enjoyable and entertaining.

Overall, American Bistro is a well-directed, well-written, and well-acted movie that delivers a warm-hearted comedy. It evokes emotions while managing to keep its viewers amused with its humor. The unlikely friendship between the central characters makes for an enjoyable and memorable film. If you're a fan of light-hearted, feel-good movies with good humor, American Bistro is sure to be worth your time.

American Bistro is a 2019 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7.