My love affair with Julia Child began when I wanted to learn to cook. I learned to cook by watching her and the Galloping Gourmet (Graham Kerr). I didn’t realize that I was gay then but something about the kitsch factor of those two shows should have clued me in (although, Julia Child and her husband Paul were two of the greatest homophobes around).
I had read the book Julie & Julia when it was first published. My obsession with all things Julia Child led me to read the book within a day. I understood Julie Powell and her obsession and I could understand her angst in wanting something to call my own.
Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t’ deliver as well as the book does. For those people looking to see the Meryl Streep and Amy Adams chemistry from the movie Doubt—you will be greatly disappointed. Some of my friends were hoping to see the two square off. While my friends enjoyed the movie, they simply didn’t understand the premise of the movie beforehand.
The acting is superb and Meryl Streep does an amazing impersonation of Julia Child (even though her accent disappears several times). Amy Adams is cute as Julie Powell but she comes off as a little too sappy for my tastes. The movie is entertaining enough but just doesn’t carry over emotionally. While there are plenty of opportunities to increase the tension in the movie, the plot lines only come to a simmer rather than the roiling boil that is necessary. Regrettably, these plots lines evaporate rather than make it to the plate.
I rate this movie two watches.
Viewed on August 10, 2009 at Clearview Chelsea theaters (NYC).
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