Genre: Drama/Comedy
Director: Nora Ephron
Cast: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, Linda Emond
RunTime: 2 hrs 3 mins
Released By: Columbia TriStar
Rating: PG (Some Sexual References)
Official Website: http://www.feedyourinspiration.com/

Opening Day: 15 October 2009

Synopsis:

Meryl Streep is Julia Child and Amy Adams is Julie Powell in writer-director Nora Ephron's adaptation of two bestselling memoirs: Powell's "Julie & Julia" and "My Life in France," by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme.

Based on two true stories, "Julie & Julia" intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends...until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.

Movie Review:

"Julie and Julia" is a chick flick quite unlike the usual rom-coms. Indeed, it isn’t at all a rom-com, though there is a very generous dose of comedy. It possesses instead the whimsical nature of the best rom-coms, telling the story of two parallel lives whose fates are intertwined by their passion for food and cooking.

Meryl Streep is the famed food writer and TV chef Julia Child, best known for her cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". The impact of said book cannot be understated, since this was the quintessential book of the 1960s that all but introduced America to the fine art of classic French cooking.

Not that you will learn much about the cultural impact of Julia Child’s book from writer/director Nora Ephron’s breezy movie- no, Ephron is more interested in telling the culinary adventures of the California-girl Julia (with the same sunshine personality) who accompanied her U.S. diplomat of a husband to France in the 1950s and fell in love with the country’s food. In fact, Julia loved the food so much she went to the male-dominated Le Cordon Bleu to pick up the in and outs of French cooking.

Back in 2002, Amy Adams is the discontented almost-30 young woman Julie Powell. Stuck in an unfulfilling office job and hating her life for having nothing to show for (unlike her richer and more successful friends), Julie decides one day to start a food blog and give herself a year to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child’s cookbook. Also based on a true story, that blog eventually led to Julie Powell’s memoir "Julie and Julia" and Ephron’s hereto-titled movie.

Separated by a gulf of almost 50 years, Julie and Julia never meet- except through the black-and-white cooking shows Julie watches with her husband in their Queens apartment at night. By telling both their stories at the same time, Ephron emphasizes the parallels of their lives- most evidently, how both Julie and Julia find a sense of purpose through cooking; one the bored housewife of a diplomat and the other the equally restless white-collar worker.

There are also other similarities- both have loving, supportive husbands who say nothing about their obsession with the kitchen, except the occasional complaint how all that delicious food they have been feasting on is giving them a fuller figure. Both Julie and Julia are also eventually rewarded for their perseverance with publishing success- Julie’s "Julie and Julia" and Julia’s "Mastering the Art of French Cooking".

But despite the likeness of both stories, Julie’s story is sadly no match for Julia’s. Whereas Julie’s challenge was only to prove to herself what she could accomplish if she set her mind to it, Julia’s was a tale of boldness and gutsiness measured not just by her recipes but also her courage against the social mores of her time and her status. The discrepancy of "Julie and Julia" lies not just in the nature of their accomplishment, but also the richness of their tales. Almost recognising the strength of their individual stories, Ephron places greater emphasis on setting up the vivid and vibrant scene of postwar Paris than the dull, almost soulless portrayal of Queens, New York.

And this disparity is also evident in the strength of the actresses. Amy Adams is no doubt a talented performer but she is no match for the exuberant Meryl Streep. Streep slips ever so effortlessly into the role of Julia, nailing to perfection Julia’s distinctive vocal lilt, loping gait, curious gestures and above all, her undimmed enthusiasm for life and food. It is a wondrous impersonation and once again proves why Streep is the actress of our generation.

If the tone of "Julie and Julia" isn’t always consistent, it’s more a fault of the material than of Ephron. To the best of her efforts, Ephron has whipped up a light and entertaining treat filled with sharp writing and great performances, in particular Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci (who plays Julia’s diplomat husband). It’s not a perfect meal, but "Julie and Julia" is still a delicious and delightful treat you’ll want to savour every minute of.

Movie Rating:



(Delicious and delightful- this is food for the soul and the spirit. Bon appétit!)

Review by Gabriel Chong