Julie & Julia: Comedy Jewel

The immenent Oscars has inspired a flurry of DVD watching. What with West Bubblefuck having a completely rubbish cinema that shows far too few of the nominated films... (I am never going to win the Most Films Seen award so long as I am here.) The flurry has also been assisted by my inability to be too far from my couch for too long, what with the inistent infections and vile viruses that have invaded me in the last week. I blame 24/7 work for 3 weeks. All work and no play makes Danne a sick little bunny. And not in a funny way.

So this weekend has seen me parked in front of my beautiful enormous tele, chowing down on soups and garlicky pastas, and consuming more Oscar fodder to try to prepare me for the decisions I face at the beginning of next month. What To Tip.

I missed Julie & Julia at the cinema. Mostly because it looked like a Mega Chick Flick with few redeeming features. But I am sorry I did so. Because I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The intertwined bio-pics of famous cookbook author Julia Child (the always-oh-so-fabulous Meryl Streep) and blogger/author Julie Powell (elfin-faced Amy Adams) deals with the question of fulfilment in life - doing what we love and what makes us happy.

Julia was a civil servant and wife of a diplomat (the ever-adorable Stanley Tucci) in paris in the '40s. Hardly the demure lady-who-lunches, Julia elbowed her way into advanced cooking classes, and the love of food gave her a sense of purpose - and eventually a very successful book deal.

Julie was a civil servant trying to pull together the pieces of post 9/11 New York, and aspiring to be a writer. Disillusioned with her life and surrounded by the bitchiest of smug successful friends, she embarked on a quest to complete Julia's Mastering The Art Of French Cooking in 12 months.

And then she got a film made about it.

I really enjoyed this gentle comedy. Possibly because I love food porn, and there is plenty in this. But there is a feminine funny to it. And I think that is mostly down to the goddess of acting that is Meryl Streep. I don't think she will get the Best Actress based on this performance - though she might get it based on the fact that she has been nominated about a million times, and not won it since 1983.

I was right in thinking this is a Mega Chick Flick. But I only mean that I don't think the XYs will get much out of it at all. So I don't mean it in a bad way.