“Are you happy?” is a little question with big answers. If “yes” then that’s cool and you can roll back on the sofa with a glass of prosecco or pant your way round a squash court, whatever floats your boat.
If you’re not, do you annoy your friends and endlessly grizzle? Or alternatively, like Liz Gilbert, leave husband and home to set upon a personal voyage of discovery?
Eat, Pray, Love is the new film adaptation based on Liz Gilbert’s autobiographical book of the same name and with Julia Roberts in the starring role. Newly divorced and bankrolled by her publishing company, Gilbert embarked on an indulgent year long global journey in which she ate (Italy), prayed (India) and found a balance between the two and ultimately new love (Bali). Roberts’ popularity, evocative locations and a message that will appeal to many means this film is destined to be a hit.
The UK release is on September 24th but I recently attended a bloggers’ advance screening at Sony with Cook Sister and Gourmet Chick. Plied with pizza we settled down to watch before listening to a panel discussion afterwards.
I always enjoy Julia Roberts’ films (except possibly Flatliners) even if they’re otherwise fairly naff productions so I expected this to push my buttons. I’m not a film critic, I sit there with my popcorn and enjoy most things without aliens or zombies.
Engaging scenes in New York, Rome and Naples are a good start. Ironically, Roberts has the greatest onscreen spark with the soon to be ex-husband Stephen (Billy Crudup, Mission Impossible: 3). His memorable scenes are his representing himself at their divorce hearing and the toe curling wedding flashback.
Rebound toy boy David (James Franco, Spider Man trilogy) is as wishy washy as his panty folding scenes in the laundrette. It’s apparent their relationship is going nowhere from the start. Brazilian lover Felipe in Bali, Javier Badem (Vicky Christina Barcelona) is the most appealing of the three but chemistry with Roberts is flat. Centre stage throughout of course, is Gilbert’s relationship with herself.
In India, we suffer the dreary “Richard from Texas” who mercifully isn’t a love interest. Opinion was unanimous in the panel discussion that the Indian scenes lacked substance. I might have felt more fondly towards Richard if I’d realised he was the omnipresent dead dad from Six Feet Under.
There’s fun in Rome explaining Italians’ hand gestures and later we get a nod towards Balinese culture but India gives us little insight other than a stereotype of an arranged marriage of a girl in the ashram with no real significance to the plot. Infact the plot of the entire film is totally linear, there are no surprises. 133 minutes of predictability makes tedious viewing that would be unbearable without Roberts to soften Gilbert’s self centred-ness.
How happy I am not travelling, not looking for myself (I was on the sofa with the Prosecco last time I checked) and not meditating. I didn’t need to watch Eat, Pray, Love to realise this. An obvious gift on DVD for women, but try not to feel guilty if the recipient leaves their partner and runs off to Goa.
This isn’t a bad film, but it left me hungry for more than what was offered. There’s some food in Italy, but it never feels much of a big deal. She eats a plate of spaghetti and some ice cream. So what?
The cinematography, despite the locations is never breathtaking. The arrival in India is memorable with Roberts rattling along in a taxi through noisy rubbish filled streets but the rest of “India” is mostly spent in the dull ashram.
A fantastic soundtrack should have showcased the character of the countries featured. Instead we get MOR fodder. The only song that really fits is Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” played early on whilst Gilbert and husband drift apart. After this, there might as well be no soundtrack for the songs chosen are largely invisible.
Gilbert had the luxury of a book deal ahead of her trip and then published a bestseller through which millions have identified with her situation and copied her route. One can’t help thinking that someone had an eye on the commerciality of Eat, Pray, Love from the start. The fortune teller in Bali must be delighted.
If you are a regular cinema goer and like Julia Roberts then go watch this film. If like me, a trip to the multiplex is a rarity, you won’t miss much by waiting for the DVD. Meanwhile, to find less self centred enlightenment about seeking happiness, I suggest you re-watch Groundhog Day, even if it is for the fifth time. Just like I did this evening.
Six out of ten.
Images reproduced with permission from Sony.
I know Julia’s movies are mostly cheesy romance, but i like the girl! Honest review, I think I will take the chance and watch it on the big screen!!!
Great review Sarah, I haven’t seen it yet (it’s not out here yet). Is eating a bowl of pasta and some ice cream that big a deal? We do that all the time! 😛
I’ve not read the book but apparently Liz Gilbert had been very underweight and presumably very disconnected from her enjoyment of food. But you are right, to those of us who have a healthy relationship with spaghetti it seems unremarkable.
I read the book…the eat bit and love bit was fun, but the indai bit dragged on forever i though…
cant wait 2 watch the film however…just cos I read the book, heard from my friends in the US its not really great, so not expecting much…
u are so damn lucky 2 be attending these screenings and food tasting events..sigh!
Really well written review. I don’t mind Julia but I won’t break my neck to see this at the cinema, not least because the boyf will whinge all the way through, no doubt about all the things you’ve mentioned! I shall wait for the DVD.
It’s definitely not a bloke film but would be good background for an evening with girlfriends and a bottle of wine.
Ha Ha Ha! Fabulous review and I think that you and I would make a great movie date! Not really crazy about her or her films. I just finished reading the book and though she is a talented and entertaining writer, the ME ME ME of the book caught in my throat. First, as you so wonderfully pointed out, she left on this trip bankrolled by a publishing company. I’d leave on a fabulous self-discovery trip tomorrow if I had that deal! She also seems to bore people with HER problems. I know that this book IS about her, her problems and her learning to live with herself, but their were points in her story that I was hoping someone would tell her to shut up and let someone else talk! But the worse thing? When I saw the trailers for the film I saw right away that too much was changed from the book and I hate that. Still can’t decide if I’ll go see the movie.
And I have watched Groundhog Day 5 times. Really.
Yeah that’s right, it’s all ME ME ME. Reminds me of a Mary Whitehouse Experience sketch sending up the Jerry Springer Show where some bratty twenty year old confronts her mother saying “You gave me such a well rounded upbringing you left me nothing to whine about!”
I simply LOVED the book, maybe because I have read it in a moment I needed something like that to reflect, to understand something more about myself and my life.
This evening I eventually will see the movie with my best friend and a jap take away.. can’t wait! Julia is my favourite actrice ever.. I’ll tell you tomorrow my feelings about the movie! 🙂
Can’t wait to hear what you think! The scenes in Italy are the best part.
You say you’re not a film critic. Can you become one immediately? You’re very good at it.
Thanks Charlie! We’ll have to see if any film companies let me loose on their material after I gave this the wavy up and down thumb!
Loved the book – and as a movie lover, can’t wait to see the film! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about it!
I loved the book, despite her whinging and all that, and cant wait to see the film! Besides, James Franco is HOTTTTTT.
I feel old now. I thought he was too boyish.
Thanks for that review. Now, I know that I should just wait for the DVD. I live in Bali and you’re right about the fortune teller – he’s getting so much visitors but is now quite sick. In some ways the film will be good for Bali tourism.
I loved the book but did not love the movie – except Javier Bardem. He’s a luv and redeemed it. This book meant the world to me, coming into my life just when I needed it most, giving me courage to accept the darkness and abuse of my past and press on with hope, joy and peace. Yes, her story is me, me, me, but only while she worked through her demons, then she was at rest, happy, free. I think we all need a me, me, me period in our lives so that we can truly live and love with a free and open heart. 🙂
I love Julia Roberts, and will be looking forward to the movie. Am not going to read the book till I watch the movie, as I suspect the movie will never be able to live up to the hype of the book. Great review!
I read this with interest,someone gave me a copy of the book recently following which I casually asked if it was worth reading.I was inundated with negative responses,could imagine the film would be easier going than the book for all the reasons you’ve mentioned.
Movies never live up to the expectations of a book. The pictures you create in your mind are always far more vibrant i think. That being said, I haven’t read the book. I don’t think I’ll be seeing this movie, its not really my sort of thing (except for the “eat” part).
*kisses* HH
Thanks for inviting me along – I doubt I would have gone to watch the movie otherwise! I am one of the last remaining people on the planet who has NOT read the book and in some ways I am glad as I think having read the book, the changes made in the movie would be annoying.
I thought it was… OK. I find Julia Roberts to be tremendously likeable and watchable and without her the movie would have been a lot less fun. I did like the basic premise (where she says to herself that she had been an active participant in every step that had led to the life she had, yet no longer felt she belonged in her own life). I think that is why the book has been so successful – I know dozens of people who feel or have felt like that. But unlike Gilbert, most people trudge along, vaguely dissatisfied forever, or at least until something cataclysmic forces them to change. There is something appealing in the idea of making the decision to change by yourself, rather than having change foisted upon you. I imagine having a cash advance from a publisher made the decision to change her life a whole lot easier 😉
But an interesting central dilemma does not a great movie make. There was much scope for breathtaking cinematography and in the end I can’t think of a single image that lingers in the memory. There was much scope for food p0rn – and in the end there was really close to none. Again, the idea of fixing a dysfunctional relatioship with food and learnign to love eating is a great theme, but the movie does not really make much of it. And that jean-zipping-up scene is just silly. Julia Roberts struggling to zip up her jeans. As if.
All in all, I think it was… OK. As you say, waiting for the DVD won’t kill you!
And I vote for James Franco as HOT :o)
I started the book and never made it to the end. I was bored by Gilbert’s self-centredness; also her half-hearted attempt at finding some religion in India seemed fake. I like Juila Roberts, but I have so say that my book experience, together with your review, means I’ll probably skip this movie, even the DVD. Instead maybe have the girls over for some Jane Austen. 🙂
The scenery and food porn were my favourite bits – plus meeting you and Jeanne!
Read the book after all the hype, absolutely hated it, and can’t bear to attempt to watch the film – even though many have said it’s better than the book. However reviews of the film on it’s own always seem to be pretty lukewarm, like yours!
Sounds like a great evening though, you get to do some really fun stuff, I’m jealous 😀