Wolfgang (film) explained

Wolfgang
Director:David Gelb
Starring:Wolfgang Puck
Music:Stenfert Charles
Cinematography:Will Basanta
Distributor:Disney+
Runtime:78 minutes[1]
Country:United States
Language:English

Wolfgang is a 2021 American documentary film, directed and produced by David Gelb. It follows the life and career of chef Wolfgang Puck.

It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2021. It was released on June 25, 2021, by Disney+. The film was removed from Disney+ on May 26, 2023.[2]

Synopsis

The movie follows the life and career of chef Wolfgang Puck.

Production

In October 2019, it was announced David Gelb would direct and produce a documentary revolving around the life of chef Wolfgang Puck, with Disney+ set to distribute.[3]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2021.[4] It was released on June 25, 2021.[5] [6]

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the documentary holds an approval rating of 86% based on 21 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10.[7]

Jason Bailey of The New York Times found the film very interesting for depicting Wolfgang Puck's rise to fame and his impact on culinary arts, praised David Gelb's direction, claiming it gives an agreeable photography of the meals depicted across the documentary film, but declared that the movie focuses too much on Wolfgang's achievements and not enough on his personal life.[8] John Serba of Decider found that the documentary manages to provide a genuine portrait of Wolfgang's life across his achievements and his regrets, claiming it gives a human touch on the businessman.[9] Jennifer Green of Common Sense Media rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, complimented the educational value of the movie, stating it manages to depict some of the challenges encountered when being a chef and running a restaurant, and praised the positive messages and role models, claiming the film promotes self-assurance, integrity, and honesty.[10] Odie Henderson of RogerEbert.com rated the film 2,5 out of 4 stars and praised Will Basanta's cinematography, stating it manages to provide a satisfying aesthetic through his shots, while claiming the film successfully depicts Wolfgang as a famous chef and self-made man, but found that the documentary film focuses too much on business and not enough on Wolfgang's personal life.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wolfgang. Tribeca Film Festival. May 30, 2021.
  2. Web site: Disney will remove over 50 shows from Disney Plus and Hulu this month . The Verge . Jess . Weatherbed . May 19, 2023 . May 19, 2023.
  3. Web site: Disney+ Revives 'People & Places', Adds Mickey Mouse And Wolfgang Puck Documentaries To Growing Nonfiction Slate. Deadline Hollywood. Patrick. Hipes. October 18, 2019. May 30, 2021.
  4. Web site: Announcing The Feature Film Lineup For Tribeca 2021. Tribeca Film Festival. April 20, 2021. May 30, 2021.
  5. Web site: There's a new documentary on Wolfgang Puck coming to Disney Plus. USA Today. Madison. Durham. May 28, 2021. May 30, 2021.
  6. Web site: Disney+ Premiere of Feature Documentary "Wolfgang" Set for June 25. The Futon Critic. May 13, 2021. May 30, 2021.
  7. Web site: WOLFGANG. rottentomatoes.com. 2021-12-30.
  8. News: Bailey . Jason . 2021-06-25 . 'Wolfgang' Review: Light as a Soufflé, and About as Substantial . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-05-18 . 0362-4331.
  9. Web site: 2021-06-25 . Stream It Or Skip It: 'Wolfgang' on Disney+, a Mostly Fluffy Biography of First-Ever Celeb Chef Wolfgang Puck . 2022-05-18 . Decider . en-US.
  10. Web site: Wolfgang Movie Review Common Sense Media . 2022-05-18 . www.commonsensemedia.org . en.
  11. Web site: Henderson . Odie . Wolfgang movie review & film summary (2021) Roger Ebert . 2022-05-18 . rogerebert.com . en.