If one were to combine this weekend’s big openers, it would look something like muscley G.I. Joe toiling away in the kitchen trying to conquer French cuisine. Luckily, that did not happen as G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra [GIJOE] and Julie and Julia [JULIE]come to theaters separately. Julie and Julia is a curious combination of stories that weaves history with the present-day.
Julie and Julia starring Meryl Streep [MSTRE] and Amy Adams [AMADA] offers something different for viewers not interested in a high testosterone actioner. The film is a combination of two memoirs set in different times, intertwined with one another. Julie Powell wrote ‘Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen’ while Julia Child wrote ‘My Life in France.’ Powell’s memoir has received much love since its publication in 2005 and Child’s story is a reliable look into the beloved chef. The film has been a source of speculation and should do well opposite Joe.
The story revolves around two women, one is Julia Child and the other is Julie Powell. The action sequences switch from Child’s time in the 1940s to present day. Streep comes fully outfitted with Child’s well-known accent and portrays the chef during the times she lived in France to her return to the U.S. It follows her travails as she struggles to find a niche before becoming her iconic self. Good old reliable Stanley Tucci [STUCC] plays her diplomat husband Paul.
Fast forward sixty some years and we have Adams’ Powell living in New York with her husband. Despite a life helping the needy, Powell is left unfulfilled in her life. When her friends all find success in their careers, Powell scrambles to find her own rhythm. In order to challenge herself, she plans on blogging her experiences cooking all of Julia Child’s recipes. The hope is that her efforts will land a book deal.
Both of these powerhouse actresses are reliable box office draws. Streep of course became a fixture for a whole new generation with The Devil Wears Prada and Adams has proven her worth with Enchanted. Together, they stand to draw in the crowds.
So, if G.I. Joe lost his influence on you after age seven, check out what Streep and Adams are cooking up.
Tag(s): GIJOE, JULIE, MSTRE, AMADA, STUCC