JULIE & JULIA

Director: Nora Ephron
Stars: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, Jane Lynch
Year: 2009
Rating: PG-13

It was a foregone conclusion I was probably going to like this one, as I grew up with both Julia Child and Meryl Streep as a big part of my entertainment life ... and Enchanted pretty much endeared me to Amy Adams for life. What I was NOT prepared for was just how much heart and soul this films has, and how much fun it would be to watch - especially due to the performances of Streep and Stanley Tucci. This film is one of pure joy, lovely and funny, and with all due respect to Sandra Bullock if Streep doesn't win Best Actress at the Oscars this year, I may never watch the ceremony (which I've caught every year since childhood) again.

The film chronicles two lives - that of Julia Child (Streep) and her husband Paul (Tucci) starting with their years in Paris and ending with the publication of the book that would start Julia's rise to fame, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Their story spans from the mid-1950's to early 1960's - but is counter-balanced with the modern-day tale of harried wannabe writer Julie Powell (Amy Adams), a Brooklyn-ite working in Manhattan, on a phone line counseling victims and survivors of 9/11. Julie is frustrated, in dire need of a purpose or goal in her life, and finds it when - with the encouragement of her husband Eric (a charming Chris Messina) - she decides to write a blog that will chronicle her year-long project of cooking every one of the 500+ recipes (most of them fairly complex) from Child's landmark cookbook.

After this set-up, the film goes back and forth between the lives of these two women, both of whom are trying to find their niche in life - their passion. In both cases that passion ends up being food, and though the film is in a large way the story of the great love that Julia and Paul Child had for one another ... and Julie and Eric as young marrieds whose love ends up getting tested by Julie's huge project ... ultimately what this film celebrates is food, and a life of joy and happiness through food.

It's charming and upbeat without being sentimental or silly. You expect Streep to have the voice and accent and mannerisms down for Julia Child; that is, after all, what Streep does with every performance. But here it's like she's really channeling Julia Child (or, at least, the Julia Child that's come to life in Julie Powell's mind); there are many times in the film when you lose Streep entirely and feel the joy of watching Julia Child onscreen. Even better, especially for those who pretty much know Streep from her various TV appearances and PBS cooking shows, here you will discover the fully-realized characterization of a woman who loved food, had an amazingly happy marriage with a man years older than her, and even had a healthy sex life well into middle age! And though the film sometimes might feel a bit uneven (Julia's scenes sparkle with life and energy, where Julie's are more straightforward comedy), when Streep is on the screen you will not be able to stop smiling.

The film is a beautiful homage to an American icon - but also a sweet, funny and warm valentine that celebrates life ... and (yeah, sorry to say it again) food. Really wonderful all the way around, and one of the best "feel-good" films I've seen in years. ****1/2 - Reel Awesome-Reel Must-See