Wolfgang

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1:32

Wolfgang

2021

1h 19m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

As a teenager in Austria, Wolfgang Puck harnessed his love of cooking to escape the harsh rule of his stepfather. A local apprenticeship forged his path to train at a revered French restaurant before landing in America at age 24. In 70s Hollywood, Puck began working at Ma Maison, crafting an original menu around fresh ingredients, making the once-tacky eatery a popular, acclaimed darling. Still, the lack of acknowledgement from Ma Maison's owner pushed Puck to take the biggest risk of his career and open his first restaurant, Spago, an instant hit where famous clientele dote equally on Puck's new American cuisine and personality. Almost by accident, Puck created the concept of a "celebrity chef" with his decades-spanning television appearances, building a staggering global empire of restaurants, cafes and products for home cooks. But at home, the frenetic professional demands disrupted his family life. From director David Gelb (Jiro Dreams of Sushi), and the creators of Chef's Table, WOLFGANG is a candid, inspiring and emotional documentary that follows a legend as he reckons with the price of his dreams.

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Brad Newsome

Sydney Morning Herald

There are perks that come with having eponymous restaurants in Disney resorts from Orlando to Shanghai. One is that Disney+ will absolutely run a fawning hagiography of you.

Jul 7, 2021

Full Review

Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It's not exactly a warts-and-all depiction of Wolfgang Puck, but it is a fascinating rags-to-riches story of a man who truly did revolutionize restaurants.

Jun 25, 2021

Full Review

Brian Lowry

CNN.com

Nicely demonstrates how its namesake fundamentally impacted the world of cooking while carving out a pretty sweet life for himself in the process. For that alone it's worth watching, even if, as documentaries go, it's less a main course than an appetizer.

Jun 25, 2021

Full Review

Mark R. Leeper

Mark Leeper's Reviews

In the 1970s, being a chef was a blue-collar job. The owner of a restaurant might be known, but not the chef. Food in the United States was fairly terrible (think TV dinners). Puck changed that, and this documentary shows how.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 18, 2022

Full Review

Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Which gives off the feeling that this is more of a commissioned and authorized promotional video by Puck for Puck, than a serious effort to appreciate an artist.

Rated: 57/100

Aug 19, 2021

Full Review

Jennifer Green

Common Sense Media

Fans of Puck and the culture of celebrity chefs in general will enjoy this retrospective of a landmark career and a moment in time.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 15, 2021

Full Review

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ranny l

The documentary Wolfgang talks about how food is family and food is love. This film depicts the culinary development of Chef Wolfgang Puck and I was delighted to learn more about his upbringing and journey to become the chef and businessman that he is. Wolfgang is celebrated in my home every day as I use his cookware and my family incorporates cooking tips that my mom learned from watching him on various television shows. He made her feel more comfortable in the kitchen and in trying new concepts with his easy style and engaging personality, which have also influenced my love of cooking. The film starts showing Wolfgang's early family life and the reasons behind his joy in the kitchen and love of cooking. We follow Wolfgang's culinary training until he becomes the first "celebrity chef" and really defines "California Cuisine," putting the gardens of California on a plate. After all, as Wolfgang says, "The right ingredients make all the difference." His incredible work ethic had leads to great monetary rewards, but at the expense of disrupting his family life. At the end of the documentary, as he looks back on his life, it seems that he has now found the right balance in his personal life as well as in the kitchen. The documentary is an emotional journey guided by Director David Gelb. I love the beautiful cinematography and the use of archival footage. Brian McGinn's script makes you really feel that the movie is in Wolfgang's voice as he discovers that his purpose in life has been to make people happy through food as a conduit to love. The interviews throughout the film are meaningful and highlight the importance that Wolfgang Puck has made on the food industry. There are so many important messages in this film such as following Wolfgang's work ethic and how it's important to believe in yourself and not be afraid to take chances. Giving up is not an option if you want to pursue your dreams, as nothing comes easy. Wolfgang says a lot of inspiring things in this film; his sentiment I love most is that "the grass is greener where it's watered the most." Where to put in the effort applies to life as well as to your garden. I give Wolfgang 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. The documentary will be available on Disney+ June 25, 2021 so don't miss this inspiring story. Reviewed by Selene W., KIDS FIRST!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Wolfgang feels like half of a interesting documentary, mixed with the greatest highlights of the mans career, which aren´t really interesting to observe as a viewer. Mixed bag, but great if you are a foodie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

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David Gelb

Director

Wolfgang Puck

Self

Christine Puck

Self

Brian McGinn

Writer

David Gelb

Producer

Brian McGinn

Producer

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Wolfgang: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

As a teenager in Austria, Wolfgang Puck harnessed his love of cooking to escape the harsh rule of his stepfather. A local apprenticeship forged his path to train at a revered French restaurant before landing in America at age 24. In 70s Hollywood, Puck began working at Ma Maison, crafting an original menu around fresh ingredients, making the once-tacky eatery a popular, acclaimed darling. Still, the lack of acknowledgement from Ma Maison's owner pushed Puck to take the biggest risk of his career and open his first restaurant, Spago, an instant hit where famous clientele dote equally on Puck's new American cuisine and personality. Almost by accident, Puck created the concept of a "celebrity chef" with his decades-spanning television appearances, building a staggering global empire of restaurants, cafes and products for home cooks. But at home, the frenetic professional demands disrupted his family life. From director David Gelb (Jiro Dreams of Sushi), and the creators of Chef's Table, WOLFGANG is a candid, inspiring and emotional documentary that follows a legend as he reckons with the price of his dreams.

Director: David Gelb
Producer: David Gelb, Brian McGinn, Jason Sterman
Screenwriter: Brian McGinn
Production Co: Supper Club
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 25, 2021
Runtime: 1h 19m

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