Julie & Julia has a lot to offer me as a movie-watcher. It’s led by women and focuses on their stories. It rejoices in a love of food and shows refreshing appreciation for cooking (and for eating). Plus, it involves a blog! (Hi!) I also appreciate the slice-of-life tone it has in the direction and cinematography, something I really adore in films like Made of Honor and Cure.

Julie & Julia follows both modern-day Julie (Amy Adams) and past Julia (Meryl Streep). Julia in the past spends her time learning to cook and writing her famous cookbook, while modern Julie begins a quest to cook through her idol’s cookbook within one year. There are some beautifully written beats of the story where both women’s stories coincide, creating a past/present parallel, and both women’s journeys are very moving to watch.

This movie had me bubbling with joy and laughing in a way that had Jock turning his head and asking me, “is this one of your favorite movies?” I was surprised and told him I’m watching it for the first time, and he said, “I hardly ever hear you laugh like that.” It was so wonderful to experience this movie; they really don’t make them like this anymore. What I want the most is an everyday story about ordinary people and love and life and being human. Julie & Julia provides this for me with the added benefit of one of the great loves of my life (food) being integral to the plot.

Not including Barbie and Everything Everywhere All At Once, in the past six years, I haven’t seen any films come out that were really for me in the way Julia & Julia is (though Birds of Prey comes close). It was so wonderful to finally be able to connect with a film and see myself in the characters in this film. Julie & Julia is well-written, beautifully shot, and has so much heart. If you love to eat or cook, this one is for you.

Rating: 📀 I loved this movie.