Release Date:  August 7, 2009
Rating:  PG-13 (for brief strong language and some sensuality)
Genre:  Comedy, Biography
Run Time:  123 min.
Director:  Nora Ephron
Actors:  Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, Linda Emond, Helen Carey, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jane Lynch

From her first bite of browned sole meunière swimming in a sumptuous butter sauce, Julia Child fell in love with French cuisine. And thanks to yet another incredible performance from Meryl Streep as the larger-than-life chef (she was 6’2) who was never seen without her signature pearls or heard without her signature “bon appétit” sign-off, a new generation of foodies will inevitably fall in love with Julia’s recipes and fascinating life story.

In fact, that’s exactly what Julie Powell did (the real-life Julie referenced in the movie’s title, portrayed by Amy Adams). Stuck in a cramped cubical more than eight hours a day, answering phone calls from the family members of 9/11 victims, Julie is on the cusp of turning 30 and realizes she’s started way too many projects that she’s never finished. A writer at heart, she abandoned her half-finished novel long ago and needs something—anything—that’ll help her feel fulfilled.

Really the only joy that Julie has, aside from the loving companionship of her husband Eric (Chris Messina), is deciding what to make for dinner. In stark contrast to the snotty friends she has “cobb salad lunch” with, she isn’t interested in merely climbing the corporate ladder. But what can she do of significance when so much of her day is sucked up by what feels like a dead-end job?

Then while enjoying a simple supper of pan-fried bruschetta, the only Italian food getting screen time in the flick, Eric gets an idea that may help Julie out of her rut. Perhaps, she should blog … a far more immediate way of getting published.

Initially feeling like the forum may be a little too self indulgent for her taste, Eric and Julie continue to brainstorm until they come up with the perfect focus for her work. Since Julie finds her sanctuary in whipping up tasty meals, Eric suggests that she could make all 524 recipes from Julia Child’s iconic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking and write about her experiences.

Then as Julie enthusiastically dives into what she eventually christens the “Julie/Julia” project with a good mix of successes and failures, the audience gets a parallel glimpse into the life of the woman Julie is actually writing about.

Of the two inspired-by-a-true-story plotlines, Julia’s is definitely more intriguing. After moving to Paris with her husband Paul (Stanley Tucci), who has accepted a new work assignment, Julia promptly decides she needs a new hobby. But when hat-making and bridge don’t really work out, Julia decides to enroll in Le Cordon Bleu culinary school. After all, she loooves food, so why not put that passion to good use?