‘Tony’ Review: A Beautifully Seasoned Coming-of-Age Story

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (See It or Skip It)– Before Anthony Bourdain became a celebrated chef, bestselling author, and acclaimed television host, he was Tony, an aimless, rebellious 19-year-old searching for direction after losing out on a writing fellowship.

He lands in Provincetown, Massachusetts, hoping to chase down a pretty girl, but unexpectedly finds himself inside the world of a restaurant kitchen. What seems destined to be another wasted summer becomes a life-defining experience that shapes the course of his future.

Does Dominic Sessa capture the real Anthony Bourdain?

The Anthony Bourdain in Tony is not the fully realized version of the man we know from his writing and television adventures. That’s exactly what makes Dominic Sessa’s performance so compelling. He isn’t trying to imitate Bourdain. This Tony is an angry punk with the confidence of a Michelin-starred chef but the instincts and skills of a toddler holding a knife.

Sessa delivers a deeply endearing and layered performance that anchors the entire film. It’s always too early to make awards predictions, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see his name on plenty of Best Actor shortlists this season.

Why does the kitchen change Tony’s life?

Initially, the kitchen is simply a means to an end: a free place to crash in exchange for washing dishes. The hammock Tony sleeps in belongs to Chef (Antonio Banderas), a disciplined cook with a rich culinary history who slowly guides him toward discovering a passion for food.

The rest of the kitchen crew is just as memorable, particularly the hilarious loudmouth Stavros, played by Stavros Halkias, and Sal (Leo Woodall), whose path serves as a warning of what Tony’s own future could become.

Outside the kitchen, Tony’s relationship with his summer crush, Nancy (Emilia Jones), proves just as influential. Jones and Sessa share wonderful chemistry, and I especially loved how their individual passions naturally intertwine throughout the story, even if the characters don’t fully recognize it themselves.

Does the film understand what made Bourdain special?

Director Matt Johnson does a tremendous job weaving Anthony Bourdain’s spirit into every frame; not just through the character, but through the film’s quiet moments along the beach. Those scenes are patient, thoughtful, and allow the audience time to reflect on Tony’s journey in a way that feels earned rather than forced.

Where the story loses some spice.

Biopics naturally come with familiar conventions, and while Tony feels fresh and vibrant for most of its runtime, a few of those clichés inevitably creep in and dilute some of the screenplay’s impact.

It’s similar to a common superhero movie trope where someone asks, “Who are you?” only for the film to respond with a cheesy one-liner or smash cut to the credits. Likewise, some of the film’s final emotional resolutions arrive a little too quickly. Given more screen time, those moments could have landed with even greater impact.

Do you need to be an Anthony Bourdain fan to enjoy Tony?

Absolutely not.

At its heart, Tony is a coming-of-age story that anyone can connect with. If you’ve seen Dominic Sessa in The Holdovers, you’ll already understand why he is such a compelling young actor. Whether you’re a lifelong Bourdain admirer or someone who only knows his name, Tony succeeds because it makes you want to know more about the man behind the legend—and if you’re already a fan, it’ll leave you eager to revisit his work.

Is Tony worth your time?

Overall, Tony isn’t interested in serving up a polished portrait of Anthony Bourdain as a finished icon. Instead, it gives us the raw ingredients: the anger, curiosity, recklessness, and hunger that would eventually shape the man he became. Anchored by a career-best performance from Dominic Sessa and directed with warmth and patience by Matt Johnson, Tony is a beautifully seasoned coming-of-age story about a young man discovering his taste for life.

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