Julie & Julia

If you are on a diet, may God, Buddha, Angelina Jolie or whatever higher power you worship have mercy on your soul. I think I gained five pounds just watching Julie & Julia, and another pound or two due to the trips to the concession stand needed to quell the hunger burning inside of me (Peanut M&Ms are not a suitable replacement for Beef Bourguignon, but any port in a storm will due).

Amy Adams stars as Julie - a customer service call center employee who hates her job, especially since the subject matter is so difficult to discuss, and the callers demonstrate we have become a society lacking courtesy, understanding and manners. All of it reminds Julie that she was supposed to do more and achieve more in life, but, somewhere along the way, she stopped being a writer. Now, it's time to start again.

Julie decides to complete every recipe in the groundbreaking cookbook Mastering The Art of French Cooking by Julia Child (Meryl Streep). Plus, it's the 21st Century, so Julie has to blog about it or it wouldn't be happening!

Can Julie get through all of the recipes?

Will her friends and family support her?

Will this bring Julie the salvation she seeks?

Before you all get excited about another Streep and Adams pairing, please keep in mind, this is more like the female version DeNiro and Pacino appearing in The Godfather II. They are in the same movie, but not in any scenes together. Luckily, the story makes you feel like they are in this project together, which is why you keep watching.

Writer/director Nora Ephron (based on books from Julie Powell, Julia Child and Alex Prud'homme) delivers a movie about inspiration, hope and overcoming adversity by throwing yourself into what makes you passionate. While it might not seem natural to show Julie's story parallel to the rise of Julia Child as she kicks around post-World War II Europe with her diplomat husband, Paul (Stanley Tucci), the stories become intertwined by more than a dutiful following of a recipe book.

Both characters are seeking salvation. Both are trying to do something most people don't believe they can complete successfully. Both are struggling to deal with their place in life and society. Both are wonderful to watch.

In a movie about as diametrically opposed to what you normally expect from Streep (this is no Sophie's Choice), she seems to be relishing every chance to be silly, goofy, and funny. However, she never makes Child look like an imbecile.

Streep shows us the strength and love of life so ingrained in this woman that her moments of silliness are moments we can all laugh with instead of at. It's charming. Additionally, you will be jealous of the flirty, fun, loving relationship she has with Paul, which makes Tucci and Streep two of the most adorable people you will see on screen. Watch them to learn the definition of chemistry.

Then, watch Adams to learn the definition of cute. While you might find her Julie to be a bit of a lightweight, and she might whine so much at times she could get on your nerves, the audience wants Julie to succeed because Adams makes the character into a version of the modern us. How many of us spend so much time working and worrying instead of learning how to cook or going on some great vacation or picking up a tennis racket to have some fun? Julie lives out the fantasy, and shows us how to make it reality for the audience.

Ephron could do a better job foreshadowing some of the difficulties Julie and Julia end up facing (so it wouldn't feel like the troubles are tossed in at the last moment because standards in screenwriting compel the writer to throw in some challenges for the characters to overcome). Also, the movie does drag on a bit as Ephron seems to be struggling to find a way to conclude Julie & Julia, and possibly includes one or two more items than needed from the real life story.

However, Julie & Julia is a wonderful treat.

Check out the Julie & Julia page with pictures from the DC press conference and great Julia Child recipes at DC50TV.com

Julie & Julia is rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some sensuality