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"JULIE & JULIA"

Directed by: Nora Ephron
Running time: 123 minutes
Release date: August 7, 2009
Genre: Comedy and Drama
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13

When you mix the ingredients of Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, Amy Adams and Chris Messina, you get a gourmet style film. Julie and Julia is about into two separate stories that intertwine by way of five decades about the famous chef, author and television personality Julia Childs, and a woman who idolizes her named Julie Powell.

Food enthusiast, novelist and filmmaker Nora Ephron whose filmography includes "Sleepless In Seattle, "You've Got Mail" and "Heatburn" (her novel and screenplay) is incorporating all that she enjoys in this film. In "Heartburn," Meryl Streep was lead actress, and in "Julie & Julia" she shares the helm as Julia Childs with Amy Adams as Julie Powell. Nora Ephron based this enlightening and delightful movie on the books "Julie & Julia" by Julie Powell and "My Life in France" by Julia Child with Alex Pruf'homme.

This film gives a contemporary 2002 backdrop of Queens, New York where Julie Powell lives as an aspiring writer. She is working in a dead-end temp job as a secretary; however, she enjoys cooking. Her husband Eric (Chris Messina)is a semi-successful businessman, but life is still tough for the couple. Julie is frustrated that her life is going nowhere, so she decides to take on the challenge of a year-long blog and write about her cooking all 524 recipes in Julia Childs' book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". Amy Adams and Chris Messina give great energizing performances as a young married couple struggling in a post 9/11 New York City. The little and sometimes big problems of spouses are brought to life on screen, such as Julie having fears of turning thirty-years old, and Eric giving his full support in her endeavor although it interferes with their romantic interludes. This part of the film seems too whimsical to capture an audience or stand on its own.

Director Ephron stimulates the film by flashing back to the 1940s and 1950s when Julia Child and husband Paul, who are magnificently portrayed by Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci, are spending time in Paris. Paul is foreign diplomat and Julia is taking up French culinary arts courses. The two met while working in military investigations during the war and as middle-age people decided to marry. The post World War II era is fascinating on screen and the two talented actors project that image in their performances. Julia Childs prepares to introduce America to French cooking with a book and later with a television show. Meanwhile, Paul is hindered by the Senator McCathy for alleged communist ties and the losing of his position. This is good thematic stuff to entice an audience.

I enjoyed this film; however, there are flaws in this movie that can not be overlooked. I think Nora Ephron is a talented filmmaker, but she forgot that a young audience (18-35 year olds) may have problems understanding who or what Julia Childs may represent. Her cooking show was a novelty to watch and her manner of speaking was unique. She would pick-up food off of the floor when she dropped it on "live television" and place it back in the pot. She would talk to the camera with a mouth full of food. This type of mannerism made her quite popular to her viewers. Very briefly, during scenes in the Julie (Amy Adams) part of this film, the audience gets a chance to see the old television series. But not enough to know what they are watching.

When I questioned Meryl Steep regarding her interpretation of Julia Child's manner of speaking, she replied, "Well, nobody knows whether or not they are doing Julia Childs or the Dan Ackroyd (Saturday Night Live) version....., I just did what I thought was right." In my opinion, it was a good version of imitating.

One major point that was emphasized in this film was the adoring and supportive husbands of both Julie and Julia. Speaking for the men who watch this movie, it is nice to know that we are recognized for the support we give to our successful women counterparts in their endeavors. Because when you are a couple, it is a "WE Thing" - not a "ME Thing."

Overall, "Julie & Julia" is a good film adaptation that will delight all.

FILM RATING (B)