"Meryl Streep digs deep as she takes the reins as the occasionally cartoonish Julia Child in this sweet and funny tale."

Every now and then a film comes along that takes you by sweet surprise, leaving you feeling all warm and gooey inside. Writer/director Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally) does just that with this wonderfully delightful bringing together of two best-selling memoirs, Julie Powell's Julie & Julia, and My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme. ----

It is both seamless and magical the way the film intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time, are at the same juxtaposition of boredom and frustration. Even their extremely uxorious husbands are not enough to stop them longing for something more. The film flits between the early years of chef Julia Child as she embarked on her culinary career, to eventually write a food bible that revolutionised American cooking forever, and Julie Powell who challenged then ‘blogged' herself cooking all 524 recipes from Child's cookbook in precisely 365 days, which gained a following, resulting in a best-seller, too. -------

Meryl Streep digs deep as she takes the reins as the occasionally cartoonish Child, the irrepressible housewife living in Paris. Streep is, as always, flawless and captivating to watch - even the scene-stealing Jane Lynch, who makes an appearance as Child's sister, can't touch her. Amy Adams plays sycophant Julie Powell, and with her calm, sweet naivety she is the perfect accompaniment to Oscar-deserving Streep. The casting is superb and there are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments to be had throughout. -----

Julie & Julia is a breath of fresh air amongst the current box-office releases. This is, ultimately, a sweet and funny tale of two women finding themselves through their love of cooking. Forgive the pun; but it is just yummy! It is one of those rare and simple films that opens your soul and lifts your spirits, making you think anything is possible. Does anyone feel hungry yet? Well, you will do once the film finishes. In fact, you will most likely run home, look up the recipe for Beef Bourguignon, bob on your pinny and your Nanna's pearls, and cook up a bloody storm! Go see it and bon appétit!! ---------

* By the way, for those who haven't heard of Julia Child she is basically the US equivalent of our beloved Delia Smith!

Synopsis

Julia Child and Julie Powell - both of whom wrote memoirs - find their lives intertwined. Julie is a temp secretary living in contemporary New York, while Julia is an American living in Paris during the 1940s and '50s discovering life, and food. Frustrated with her job, Julie embarks on a year-long culinary quest to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child's 1960s book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." Though separated by time and space, both women are at loose ends... until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.

Film Facts -------

Official site: http://www.julieandjulia.com/

UK Release Date: 11th September 2009

Director: Nora Ephron

Writers: Nora Ephron, Julie Powell, Julia Child

Cast: Meryl Streep ('Julia Child'), Amy Adams ('Julie Powell'), Stanley Tucci ('Paul Child'), Chris Messina ('Eric Powell'), Jane Lynch ('Dorothy McWilliams'), Mary Lynn Rajskub ('Sarah'), Vanessa Ferlito ('Cassie'), Linda Emond ('Simone Beck'), Helen Carey ('Louisette Bertholle')

Distributor: Sony Pictures UK

Certificate: 12A

Run-time: 123 mins

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