Julie & Julia

"What is it you REALLY like to do?"
"Eat!"

Julie Powell (Adams) is frustrated.  Everyday she sits in her cubicle and listen to people complain about their lives or yell at her on the phone.  All her friends are successful women, who have followed their passions and are well known in their respective fields.  Feeling frustrated, she decides to create a blog as a creative writing outlet: she will make all 542 recipes in Julia Child's recipe book in 1 year.

In the 1940's, Julia Child (Streep) is also frustrated.  She has moved to Paris, France with her diplomat husband, Paul (Tucci), and is bored.  She finds the people and food fascinating, but there is nothing for her to do, and there are no English cookbooks of French cooking.  So she enrolls in a series of cooking classes, with a group of competitive men... and she is a success.  After finishing, she meets two French women, Simone (Linda Emond) and Louisette (Carey), who are creating a French cookbook in English... and becomes a collaborator on their book.

Read most other reviews of this film and you will find the following: 1) Meryl Streep is awesome, and 2) the Amy Adams sections just aren't as good.  Well, I have to disagree.

Yes, Meryl Streep is amazing... but who didn't already know that?  She is a larger than life actress, playing a larger than life character.  And it works.  Then there is Amy Adams (love her)... her character is so much more attainable and relate-able.  How many people out there are in cubicle jobs where they have next to no power?  I can relate... it sucks when you are unhappy at work.  When you are miserable, it translate to other areas of life, and it is necessary to find a creative outlet: doing something you love.  It is endearing to see someone else struggling with the same things in life.  Yes, I looked forward to seeing the Julia portions of the film, but I understood Julie's spots as well.

I love the combination of Streep and Stanley Tucci.  They are a very believeable couple, who clearly are crazy about each other.  It is clearly Streep's show, but I enjoyed seeing the pair on screen at the same time.  The modern couple was o.k.  Their chemistry wasn't as strong.

I've never read Julie's book or blog, so I don't know if how faithful the film is... but I enjoyed it.  Not really what I was expecting, but a nice little film.

I would not suggest watching this film when you are hungry.  The film is like a love letter to food... all of the food looks incredible and your mouth just starts to water while they are cooking.

Julie & Julia (2009) 123 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language and some sensuality
Director: Nora Ephron
Starring: Meryl Streep as Julia Child
Amy Adams as Julie Powell
Stanley Tucci as Paul Child
Chris Messina as Eric Powell