Julie and Julia

My last entry on this blog was over a year ago, so rather obviously I'm not seeing that many films.

Only about 5% are made for adults -- and most of those don't appeal to me either.

For me, this film could have been reduced to a ten minute show of Meryl Streep impersonating Julia Childs: the high pitched, goofy laugh and the obvious bemusement with a large, ungainly body.

Beyond that -- I despise its premise -- i.e. the quest for self fulfillment via fame and recognition -- i.e. the typical American "Star is born" narrative -- and the consequent marginalization of the actual art with which the star is involved.

Was Julia Childs really a master cook? She never worked as a professional chef (at least in this story) -- and went straight from chef school to teaching and then writing a recipe book.

She's presented as a big hearted, somewhat goofy, happy free spirit --- and that's a personal style that I suppose deserves the emulation that Julie gave it (as if young Julie, the blogger, were watching the Meryl Streep segments of the movie right along with us, instead of just reading a cook book)

But the climactic moment in this film is Julia receiving a copy of her first published book , while Julie getting contract offers for hers . It's not preparing a great meal or mentoring a great student.

And all the other aspects of both Julie and Julia's lives are washed out background -- including their sweet, supportive husbands and annoying parents.

"What am I going to do with my life?" -- the middle aged housewife (Julia) or recent recent college graduate mired in a nowhere job (Julie) might ask.

"Try to get famous" is the answer this movie provides.