"Julie & Julia"

This is it! My first official review! How interesting that my first real blog entry is on a movie about blogging....

So here is the format: first I will give you the premise of the film, second the pros, third the cons and finally fourth, the verdict.

Premise: "Julie & Julia" is a true story based on the lives of Julia Child and Julie Powell. The film chronicles how Julia Child became a household name to cooks everywhere and how one woman, Julie Powell decided to conduct a project. This project entailed of cooking all of Julia Child's recipes from her book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year and writing a blog about it.

The Pros:

1. First off, this film was wonderfully casted. Meryl Streep was the perfect actress to portray Julia Child. Her mannerisms and voice were spot on! Amy Adams was delightful and endearing. I really connected with her character and was rooting for her throughout the movie as she took on cooking challenges. Supporting these leading ladies were Stanley Tucci and Chris Messina (as Paul Child and Eric Powell respectively). They provided a wonderful balance to Streep and Adams.
2. The movie switched back and forth seamlessly between Julie's and Julia's lives. When telling two separate stories in two different time periods and locations is challenging and the director, Nora Ephron did an excellent job with each transition.
3. This film had me wanting to drive straight home to start cooking (which could be the most dangerous thing in the world).

The Cons:

1. I am uncertain if this con is a theater issue or a filming one, but in a number of scenes, the heads were cut off at the top of the screen. It is a bit disconcerting to watch both Streep and Adams talk, but only see them from the neck down. If this was purposeful, I am not sure the purpose of it and found it to be a distraction.
2. Most people are not bothered by foul language, but sometimes movies place it in their script for the sole purpose of getting a higher rating. At one point, Stanley Tucci drops the f-bomb and while it got a laugh from the audience, it seemed unnecessary and out of place for his character. There are many films where foul language is present and it fits the moment, but in this case it did not. It is annoying (almost as much as overly obvious product placement).
3. This film had me wanting to drive straight home to start cooking (which could be the most dangerous thing in the world).

The Verdict: This is a really great "chick flick". Gentleman, if you want to score extra points with the lady in your life, take her to see this film. It will pay off, I promise. This movie is not going to change your view of the world, but it may open your eyes to the joy of challenging yourself and trying something new. If you are a "foodie", this movie will be a must have for your collection.