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Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2009 > August > 07 > Entry
‘Julie & Julia’ a delicious double order
Take half a cup of a Meryl Streep period biography, mix a half-cup of a contemporary romantic comedy with Amy Adams, liberally sprinkle dozens of recipes, add a healthy dollop of pathos and voila - you have Julie & Julia, a delectable end-of-summer treat.
The movie is writer-director Nora Ephron’s canny fusion of two books: My Life in France by the famed chef Julia Child (Streep) and Julie & Julia by Julia Powell (Adams) a New York-based writer who blogged about cooking all 524 recipes in Child’s cookbook over the course of one year. Powell found herself along the way, just as Child found herself in her quest to publish a French cookbook for American readers.
This risky endeavor has led some people to complain that Powell’s story doesn’t have nearly as much weight as Child’s. Of course it doesn’t. How could it? Child lived enough life to fill several movies, and this one barely even touches upon her TV career. Powell’s story, on the other hand, probably couldn’t support a whole movie by itself, so contrasting the two women is absolutely the right approach.
When she moved to France, Child struggled to fit in. Even when she finally found her niche in cooking, people kept looking down at her - figuratively, anyway. She was too American, too daffy, too tall. And yet she persisted with an indomitable spirit.
When we meet Powell, she and her husband squeeze into an apartment above a pizzeria in New York. Dragged down by the double whammy of turning 30 and a stressful job with a 9-11 relief agency, Powell struggles to cope until she lights upon the idea of not only cooking her way through Child’s recipes, but sharing it with an audience.
Streep and Adams worked very well together in Doubt, but in Julie & Julia, they never share any scenes. All the same, the movie allows the actresses to play off each other well in two different ways.
First, Ephron very deftly segues between the dual stories, never lingering in any one of them too long, and drawing parallels without beating the audience over the head with them. Julie & Julia is easily her best-work as a writer-director, trumping Sleepless in Seattle and marking a fine return to form after the disaster that was Bewitched.
Second, the movie allows Streep and Adams to play to their particular strengths. It’s an old joke to call Streep a mistress of the accents, but here, the role never feels like a mere impression. I wasn’t thinking “That’s Meryl Streep doing Julia Child.” I was thinking “That’s Julia Child.” She’s never been more fun to watch. Stanley Tucci is delightful too as Child’s faithful, often irreverent husband.
In a way, Adams has the harder task. She has to take a much less well known figure going through all kinds of angst, yet still make her appealing enough to be an entry into the story for the audience. Some of the writing in the Powell sections isn’t quite as sharp as the Child sections, with some moments that only occasionally smack of a stereotypical “chick flick.” Still, Adams overcomes these with her boundless charm, whether Julie feels flustered or triumphant.
Not only did Julie & Julia provide a great showcase for two great actresses, it made me interested to try more French food. Heck, I might even try cooking it sometime. Watch this space if I do.
GRADE: A-
PS In case anyone missed it, my tribute to the late John Hughes can be found here.
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Comments
By Barb
August 9, 2009 6:59 PM | Link to this
I saw the movie this afternoon with a pretty full house and thought it was delicious! Streep caught Child’s mannerisms perfectly. The audience, men and women both, reacted out loud several times. Very funny. Adam’s did what she could with the less dynamic character. Totally enjoyable film that I wouldn’t mind seeing again.By Bon apetit
August 9, 2009 3:35 AM | Link to this
The movie is a good watch and as for Ms. Powell’s lack of sympathy, that wasn’t apparent in the film. In fact, she was moved to tears by some of her callers. Streep and Tucci are delicious!By Sir Critic
August 7, 2009 2:13 PM | Link to this
Lori: Given your description, it sounds like Ephron toned down Powell’s book somewhat. There’s not much in the way of language. As for her 9-11 job, the movie portrays her as sympathetic to the victims but worn down by the job.By Lori
August 7, 2009 1:22 PM | Link to this
I am reading the book right now…Julie & Julia…it sorta bounces all over the place, but it is kind of funny. Lot’s of “f” bombs so it is definitely adult only. It will be interesting to see how it shows up in film. I can’t figure out how this girl was able to afford all the ingredients! And I have to say when you read the book…I was taken back by her lack of sympathy to the victims of 9/11…really in poor taste and added nothing to the story. I give the book a C- and we’ll see about the movie!