Director: Nora Ephron
Cast: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci
Screenwriter: Nora Ephron
Running Time: 123 min
Rating:PG
AN IRRESISTIBLE RECIPE
With the sound of Nora Ephron's past two cinematic catastrophes Lucky Numbers and Bewitched still ringing Code Gigli in my ears, i was undoubtedly skeptical about her latest foray into the Romcom genre. Julie and Julia however signals a return to form for writer/director Ephron who has managed to produce one of the most charming films of the year.
Julie and Julia tells two alternating tales. One involves Julia Child's rise to Culinary fame whilst the other chronicles blogger Julie Powell's mission to cook every recipe in Child's 'Mastering The Art Of French Cooking'. Although the stories are set decades apart-Child's in 1950's France and Powell's in post 9/11 New York-each woman shares a common bond of wanting to better their lives by pursuing their shared passion of food in different yet equally rewarding ways.
The task of having to tell two biographical tales within the one film was not an enviable one, yet Ephron's screenplay succeeds flawlessly in interweaving the two vastly different plots. Child's exploits in France and Powell's personal and professional trials and tribulations manage to engage equally, thanks in large part to the quality of the performances.
As Julia Child, Meryl Streep reminds us all that as far as actresses go, she is in a class all by herself. Streep is an early favorite to receive her sixteenth Oscar nomination for the role, and deservedly so. You can't help but fall in love with Child as Streep manages to bring to the perfect combination of wit, intelligence and poignancy to the role. Streep also manages to avoid the tendency of actors to caricature real life subjects, making the larger than life Child endearingly human.
Unfortunately Amy Adams as Julie Powell succeeds less in winning the audiences affections. In fairness to Adams, the character herself admits that she can be 'self absorbed' and a 'bitch'. Her performance just seems to lack the charm necessary to help the audience forgive the character for her faults. Her emotional range never seems to stem further than a mopey/perturbed combination contributing to her performance as a whole falling somewhat flat. Relative unknown Chris Messina is quite likable, lending good support as Powell's 'saint' of a husband. Still, you can't help but question what exactly his character is getting out of a relationship in which he is constantly playing second fiddle to Julie's relatively juvenile problems. Perhaps it is more the fact that it is human nature to root for the underdog that helps Powell's story to succeed, rather than the likability of the character.
The relationship between Julia and her husband Paul-played by Stanley Tucci- is far more endearing and is the underlying heartbeat of the movie. Tucci, one of the best character actors in the business, shines in a role that in the wrong hands could have been completely buried by Streep's vivacious Child. The scenes between these two masterclass actors provide some of the most humorous and touching scenes of the film.
Like any good recipe, everything in Julie and Julia just seems to gel. Editor Richard Marks does a superb job of fitting together what was undoubtedly a jig saw puzzle of a film. Costume designer Anne Roth and the films make up department are exceedingly good at recreating 1950's Parisian chic couture as well as the less glamorous New York contemporary fashion. Finally Stephen Goldblatt's cinematography makes for a vibrantly colorful and fresh looking film, almost good enough to eat!
Despite the film languishing slightly in the second half and a rather abrupt ending, Julie and Julia makes for thoroughly enjoyable viewing. Managing to be sweet without being corny and touching without being soppy, it's feel good viewing at it's finest. It also happens to be the film most likely to make you gain weight, so don't be surprised if you are hit with a massive attack of the munchies afterwards! Four out of five stars
****
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