Four years ago, had you told anyone that come 2009 Meryl Streep would be one of Hollywood's most consistent box office stars they would have laughed in your face. While she was considered the world's best living actress, she never delivered huge box office numbers. However, at age 60, Streep has completely changed the model of success. With 2006's superb performance in The Devil Wears Prada and last year's light-hearted romp, Mamma Mia! Streep has claimed her place at the forefront of pop culture and Julie & Julia will, no doubt, keep her there.Julie & Julia is a two-part story that follows culinary-queen Julia Child (Meryl Streep) as she breaks into the world of food, and Julie Powell (Amy Adams) a post-9/11 cubical worker as she blogs about her 365-day-adventure of cooking her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
The Julia portion of Julie & Julia is a delight. When Child arrives in France in 1949 with her husband Paul (Stanley Tucci) she needs a hobby. There is little that can satisfy her until she enrolls in the Cordon Bleu cooking school. It's an absolute joy watching her commit to her newfound love of wanting the world to enjoy great food. This is where Streep is an absolute marvel (not surprisingly). Her Julia is an absolute joy, waltzing across the screen with unfettered passion. It's doubtful that anyone will be able to watch this performance without a "perma-grin."
The Julie half of the film isn't nearly as fantastic, but it's close. Adams may be the most likeable actress in Hollywood, and it's impossible not to fall in love with her. However, as she cooks and blogs her way through Child's masterpiece Julie claims to be a "bitch" and hints at vulgarity, but those qualities just aren't apparent throughout the course of the film. Director/screenwriter/producer Nora Ephron's script wants Julie to be a typical New Yorker with the charm of a southern belle, but it just doesn't work.
However, buoyed by Hollywood's new gruesome twosome (last seen together in Doubt), Julie & Julia is the rare August flick that will leave a good taste in your mouth.
Bon Appetit!
Grade: A-
2 comments:
Definitely inspired me to get cooking again (and dust off my cookbooks!)...I really enjoyed this film.
One criticism - why have the "Julia hates me" segment without any sort of resolve. Did Julia really read it? Did she ever get an answer? I want to know!
I agree.
They should have left that part out. You spend the entire movie falling in love with Julia (thanks Meryl!) and then at the end it's like, "oh, nevermind, she's mean."
It made no sense at all...
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