Academy Award winner Meryl Streep can pretty much do it all. Last year she’s sang ABBA songs in “Mamma Mia” and played a nun in “Doubt”. This year she took on the role of Julia Child in “Julie and Julia” and turned-in a masterpiece.
The movie is based on two true stories. Streep’s Child is not yet the famous chef. Instead we see her starting out on his adventure of becoming a great cook, in France in the 1940’s and 50’s. Stanley Tucci plays her husband, Paul. Child gets to know two women who convince her to help them write a cookbook for Americans on French cooking. It would later become a classic and Child’s ticket to fame and fortune.
At the same time, in the movie, we get the story of Julie Powell (played by Amy Adams), who has rough job in New York City in 2002, trying to help people effected by the 9/11 attacks. She loves to cook and decided to start a blog and write about cooking her way through Child’s famous cookbook – all 524 recipes in 365 days.
“Julie and Julia” is very entertaining. You can’t help but root for both of the characters to overcome their problems and achieve their goals. Streep, as Child, is fantastic. Adams is also terrific, as is Tucci is his important supporting role.
There is humor, some sentimental moments and the food is so great to look at that I had to sneak a sandwich during the 2-hours of the film because watch it made me hungry. With all the big-budget, Hollywood blockbusters in theaters this year and now out on DVD it’s a pleasure to enjoy a calmer film with a nice story that had no car chases or special effects.
“Julie and Julia” is rated PG-13 for some mild adult content and a few bad words. It’s geared toward adults, especially women, but older kids who like to cook, or are taking French in school, will certainly enjoy it. DVD extras include clips of the real Julia Child in action, and one version even includes a cookbook!
On The Official Kid Critic Report Card, “Julie and Julia” gets a B+. It’s one of the best films of the year.
This is the second time that Streep and Adams have been in a film together. The first was last year’s “Doubt.” Even though they don’t have a single scene together in “Julie and Julia” they are starting to make a great team.