I hardly ever go to the theater to see a movie anymore.  So, my former endeavor to give you a movie review of a current, in-the-theater-now film, is obviously not working.  But since I still love movies and like to talk about them and pretend that I work for World magazine, I’ve just changed my format a bit.  I’ll be bringing you “The Pirate Mom’s Movie of the Week,” which will feature my take on a recent movie I’ve seen.  It might be, occasionally, one that’s in the theater, or it might be one that’s new to DVD, or it might be Gone with the Wind.  You just never know, and that’s fun.  Right?  Right?!

And with that, I bring you my very first movie of the week….

Julie & Julia is, like the tagline says, based on two true stories:  Julia Child’s book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and how it came to be, and Julie Powell, who blogged about cooking her way through said book in a year and later wrote a book about that experience. 

Highlights:

• The unique storyline.  This is not your tired, predictable romantic comedy.  It is quirky, fun and smart, and it draws you in and makes you a part of this story, until you feel like a stick of butter melting over low heat in a skillet.  What?  Doesn’t everyone want to feel that way?  Seriously, the film seamlessly goes back and forth between the pre-famous days of Julia Child and Julie Powell, mirroring their experiences, triumphs and failures alike.  While you may find yourself wishing there was a little more Julia and a little less Julie, the story just works…plain and simple.
• The acting.  Somehow, once again, the amazing Meryl Streep, makes us forget that she even exists and flawlessly pulls off the quirky, lovable essence of Julia Child.  She totally deserved her last night’s win of the Golden Globe for this performance.  I’m quickly becoming a big Amy Adams fan.  She brings a sort of likable, wide-eyed innocence to the characters she plays, and her portrayal of Julie Powell is no exception.  Stanley Tucci plays Julia’s husband hysterically and believably.
• The portrayal of marriage.  Surprising, I know, from a movie about cooking and from Hollywood in general, but the marriages of Julia and Julie with their husbands are portrayed as important and sweet and worth fighting for.  The dialogue both couples share are both comical and real, and it made it extra fun that I was watching with my own husband, Big D (who also, by the way, liked this movie a lot, guys!).
• The food.  Don’t watch this movie when you’re hungry.  Before you pop this in your DVD player, make sure you have enough popcorn and Snow Caps on hand to keep your mouth from watering, because the food in this movie is pure, unadulterated sin.
• Blogging.  I think it’s safe to say that, so far, there are not many movies about blogging.  So, it was very poignant and fun for me to see Julie Powell’s journey as a blogger unfold.  I could relate some to her struggles and thoughts as she struggled over her entries and reader comments.

Low points:

• The brief, strong language and sensuality.  The movie is rated PG-13 for such.  I feel if they had edited one word, unbelievably uttered by Julia’s husband, and about three minutes of a scene between Julie and her husband, the movie could have been rated PG, and one could have even watched it with their young children.
• The influence.  You will find that after watching this movie, that you too will want to cook your way through Julia’s book, and if you do, you’re likely to gain about twenty pounds.  The character of Julie remains rail-thin through her adventure with no treadmills in sight, and you will think bad thoughts about this while you watch.

Julie & Julia…you butter….er, I mean better…see it!

Related links:

Julie Powell’s actual Julie/Julia project blog  (Warning:  She uses some R-rated language occasionally.)

Julia Child on PBS Read about and watch videos of the  most infamous, fun, real cook of our time!