German-Turkish director Fatih Akin is a man of many genres, from thriller (“Head-On”) to political drama (“The Edge of Heaven”) to music doc (“Crossing the Bridge”).
Now he tries his hand at comedy in the chaotic “Soul Kitchen.”
It’s all about the bushy-haired Zinos (Adam Bousdoukos) and his efforts to turn his divey Hamburg restaurant into a trendy hot spot.
Obstacles include Zinos’ jailbird brother; a temperamental chef who quit his last job when a customer demanded that his gazpacho be served cold; Zinos’ tall, blond girlfriend, who runs off to Shanghai for work; and a real estate sleaze who sics the health inspectors on the eatery.
There are moments of fun (an aphrodisiac-laced dessert, for example), but generally the humor seems warmed-over. Judging by “Soul Kitchen,” Akin should stick with the serious stuff.