This film is about two parallel journeys—Julia Child's creation of a magnificent cookbook and Julie's following all the recipes in the book in one harried year. The story was set, at times, in the present and much of it consisted of Meryl Streep doing a magnificent impersonation of Ms. Child—so good that at times it was quite touching and beautiful.

I liked that this movie chose an unusual method to tell the story by bouncing back and forth from Julie's life in the present to Julia Child's life in the 1940s and 50s. The problem for me, however, was not the style of telling the story but that I felt little, if any, connection to Julie and really wanted to know so much more about Julia. Maybe some of this is because my wife, like Julia Child, is an author and it just seemed like Julie was piggybacking off Ms. Child's success. In other words, Julie didn't really DO anything of her own and made a name for herself solely by recreating recipes by another person. This seemed to go far beyond just 'fan fiction' and on top of this, I really didn't like this character all that much—though, with Amy Adams in this part, it's hard to hate her because of Adams' bubbly and nice persona.

So why, despite this major complaint, did I still give the movie a 7? Well, the portions with Meryl Streep deserved a 10—they were wonderful and I really, really wanted to see a lot more of this. In fact, I wish the whole Julie plot had been removed and it simply been the story of Julia Child….PERIOD. I would have loved to have heard more about Ms. Child's pain in not being able to have children as well as see more about her loving and sweet relationship with her husband. These portions in the movie, though WAY TOO BRIEF, were quite touching and made me shed a few tears. As for Amy Adams, she did a good job with what she was given, but she wasn't given much. Her character seemed shallow and a bit self-involved. Think about it…this lady was willing to lose her husband over a dream that, to me, seemed silly and not terribly important. All too often, I found myself hating this character—and wanting to see so much more of Streep as Julia Child. Plus, I really wanted to know WHY Ms. Child did NOT approve of Julie's blog. I think I can guess why, but just glossing over this briefly near the end seemed unsatisfying.

Overall, this is a very, very well-crafted story with great acting and direction…but a story that seemed inadequate and could have used a re-working…without Julie.

With talented actors such as Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci and Jane Lynch on board, plus Nora Ephron has been responsible for some lovely work, 'Julie & Julia' seemed a recipe made in heaven. Seeing it, it is truly delicious stuff.

Do agree with those saying that the Julia Child portions are much more interesting than the Julie Powell ones. Not that the Julie Powell scenes are unwatchable, certainly not. There are amusing and sweet moments and succeeds just as much as the Julia Child story in making one want to grab a cook-book and start cooking or starting a blog. The film in general with both story lines compels one to want to cook, regardless of how good they are at it or not.

Amy Adams also brings charm to Julie and an amusing angst and Chris Messina is likable support, though the character is underwritten somewhat. Their chemistry is nicely done.

What lets it down however are silly scenes like with the dinner and 65 answer phone messages, pacing that lacked lustre in places and the shallow self-absorbed way Julie particularly is written.

Luckily, the Julia Child portions have much more charm and are easier to relate to, with Julia's obstacles and determinations being easier to root for and Julia being a more endearing character. The scenes have so much warmth and makes one laugh in an uplifting fashion and cry in how delicately and sensitively the subject is portrayed.

Meryl Streep gives yet another masterly performance, that's both hilarious and touching and much more than an impersonation even with the mannerisms, voice and such being spot on. She is not as tall as Child was, who was 6 foot 2 to Streep's 5 foot 6, but 'Julie & Julia' cleverly disguised that by basically casting shorter actors and actresses. Stanley Tucci is equally brilliant as her husband, one really believes that they are in love and Tucci charms the socks out of everybody. Jane Lynch is a welcome presence in a small role as Dorothy.

The only problems with her story are that it occasionally sags in the middle and that the Republican/McCarthyism jibes did come over as mean-spirited and unnecessary.

'Julie & Julia' is beautifully filmed, especially in the Julia story, which also has very evocative and handsomely rendered period detail that feels like late 40s-50s France. The music gives a good taste of the uplifting and the tragic, with brilliant use of "Time After Time". Am not a fan of the very overplayed "Prince of Denmark" march but tolerated it here.

Nora Ephron's directing in the film's best parts is some of the best she ever did in my opinion and in the best parts the script is witty, inspiring, poignant and sharply observant with lots of warmth. Much of the story works really well, with the two stories and time lines intertwined with great skills and never is hard to follow or choppy.

Overall, culinary deliciousness if at times uneven. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Julie Powell (Amy Adams) is a writer tired of her job. On the suggestion of her husband Eric Powell (Chris Messina), she starts writing a blog to tackle all of Julia Child's (Meryl Streep) recipes in one year. The movie also shows Julia's life with her husband Paul (Stanley Tucci).

Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci masterfully recreates the love between Julia and Paul Child. They are great together. Amy Adams is the epitome of likability. She is wonderful especially when things go wrong. The trick is to weave together the story of these two married women. Nora Ephron is able to maintain both stories' momentum while giving them a relationship. The only problem is that the ending doesn't have quite the dramatic punch. But it ends sweetly and that's all it needs.