All the pieces were here, great actors, beautiful cinematography, a fun storyline... but it didn't feel authentic, there was no heart, no chemistry. Very mediocre.

Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) is a modern woman with a husband, a job, and a house. Then she divorces her husband. Confused and lost, she sets off on a quest for enlightenment.

Ryan Murphy wrote and directed this film based on the popular book. I don't know if there's anything especially offensive to me (moviewise) in this movie, but I don't find it involving. It feels very bourgeois. And it goes so slowly. She's so full of herself. Julia Roberts just doesn't give a sense of somebody in crisis. Can boredom be a crisis? That's what it seems to be. If there is one movie thing that I object to, it's the narration. There's nothing more boring than being told how unfulfilled you are in narration. It doesn't make the movie any better.

It was easy to work out what the film would be about from the title, and I mainly heard about it because of the leading actress, so I was certainly willing to give it a go. Based on the true story, modern woman Elizabeth 'Liz' Gilbert (Julia Roberts) had a successful career as a writer, a house and husband Stephen (Big Fish's Billy Crudup), but it was an unhappy marriage that eventually ended in divorce, leaving her alone, lost, and needing to find some comfort in life. She decides she needs a break, risking everything to change her life, by embarking on a journey around the world to three countries on a quest for self-discovery. She starts with a four month trip to Italy, pleasuring herself with nourishment and taste eating many delectable dishes and making the most of the locations with new friends. Next she arrives in India to discover the benefits of prayer, meditation and spiritualism, staying there for three months also with new people. Finally, she travelled to Bali, Indonesia reuniting with a ninth-generation medicine man she met once before, but more significantly she meets local man Felipe (Javier Bardem). What started as slight contempt because of a near car based accident, turns into love for the Brazilian factory owner, it lasted until the end of the year when she ended and returned home feeling complete again, and of course writing her experiences down. Also starring James Franco as David Piccolo, Richard Jenkins as Richard from Texas, Viola Davis as Delia Shiraz, Hadi Subiyanto as Ketut Liyer, Tuva Novotny as Sofi, Arlene Tur as Armenia, Christine Hakim as Wayan Nuriasih and Sophie Thompson as Corella. Roberts gives a very relaxed, luminous and credible performance, Franco gets his moments while on screen, and Bardem is a good charming as the rugged new love interest. Besides Roberts, what really sticks out are the marvellous sights such as the delicious Italian meals, the wonderful landscapes and places of Italy, India and Bali, and a great use of colour, it may have slight predictability, but it is an enjoyable biographical drama. Julia Roberts was number 29 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars. Worth watching!