Looks Great, Less Thrilling

Julie & Julia


Release: 08.07.09
Rated PG-13
2 hours, 3 minutes


Matinee



A couple weeks back, me and my two movie buds purchased tickets to our latest weekend distraction. As we entered into the theater lobby, something seemed wrong. As I looked around, I came to the only logical conclusion, which spun me on my heels and back out the door. I arched my head to the sky, certain I'd spy a hovering mothership. No, I don't live in Johannesburg and wasn't duped into thinking the prawns had landed. From the crowd within the theater's walls, I was certain it was Cocoon: The Return all over again. Seriously, I couldn't believe the gobs of elderly people weren't being led by Wilford Brimley astride a white stallion, or at the very least, Brimley on a Hover-Round painted white and trimmed in silver.

Turns out, the nursing home had loaded up the residents, delayed their ususal 4pm dinner, and dropped them off for the late afternoon show of Julie & Julia. Makes sense since most of these folks would have been young homemakers during the dawning of the era of Julia Child (Meryl Streep, Adaptation). Specifically, the film adapted and directed by Nora Ephron (What Women Want) focuses half its attention on the rise of Julia Child as a culinary force. Her story begins as she and husband Paul (Stanley Tucci, Swing Vote) move to France and continues as she writes her first cookbook.

Ephron balances Julia's story with that of Julie Powell, a struggling writer who starts a blog chronicling her endeavor to complete Julia Child's book of 524 recipes within a year. Amy Adams plays Julie and was largely recognizable by this geriatric crowd as Streep's costar in Doubt, the movie they saw on their last field trip. Where Julia and Paul are portrayed as a perfectly amorous couple, the relationship between Julie and her husband, Eric (John Messina, Away We Go), is strained by the stress of her blogging project.

In both worlds, the obstacles presented to Julie and Julia are never dire or degrading. Julia is despised by only one of her Cordon Bleu professors. Julie feels inadequate when compared to her more successful peers. Julie confides her marital troubles to best friend Sarah, played by Who's That Lady Mary Lynn Rasjkub (Sunshine Cleaning). Julia has to find a husband for her big sis, Dorothy, played by another Who's That Lady, Jane Lynch (Role Models). Julia and her colleagues write a French cookbook that is exceptionally lengthy. Julie has resigned herself to a government job instead of her writing dream. This is not so much a tale of overcoming overwhelming odds as it is a light-hearted romp over life's little speedbumps.

Dirty Undies
From the animalistic grunts and purrs of the aged audience, you would have thought we were watching Eyes Wide Shut or 9 1/2 Weeks. In actuality, the oohs and ahhhs were at the sight of the exquisite-looking meals prepared and eaten by the ladies. Butter-slathered filet of sole, decadent chocolate cake and beef bourgogne made many a viewer orgasmic. I have to admit, the meals were the most delectable looking things onscreen, and that's saying a lot, given I'd gobble up Amy Adams.

The Money Shot
Julie & Julia is as light anf fluffy as the Bavarian cremes you could whip up from Julia's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Streep and Adams deliver the goods with their usual poise, though these portrayals didn't require that much heavy lifting. Still, the congenial costars and delectable food add a pinch of fun into an otherwise forgettable film.

LAMBScore:

'Cleaning' is a Messy Movie

Sunshine Cleaning
Release: 03.13.09
Rated R
1 hour, 42 minutes

Second Run Seats


Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams, Serving Sara) lived the dream in high school; head cheerleader dating the quarterback Mac (Steve Zhan, Riding in Cars with Boys). Now she cleans up behind those living their dreams. She's taking realty classes which consist of secret rendezvous with the now married Mac at the Sleep-Eazy motel. Meanwhile, Rose leaves her son, Oscar (Jason Spevack, Hollywoodland), with her baby sis, Norah (Emily Blunt, Dan in Real Life), since it's one of the few jobs Norah doesn't completely screw up. With a passing comment by Mac and the urgent need to earn private-school tuition for Oscar, Rose decides to specialize her cleaning for the recently deceased. Enlisting her layabout sister, the backdoor business Sunshine Cleaning is born.

Did you catch all that? Rose is juggling a hustling father, a troubled sister, a bored child and a married boyfriend all while cleaning houses, working on a realty license and running an unlicensed bio-hazard removal business. Somewhere amid the frenzy she finds time to catch random television movie scenes to find her late mother's walk-on role as a waitress. Her plate is extremely full, which explains, but doesn't excuse, why all these plot strings don't get resolved by the film's end.

The death of their mother had a significant influence on the lives of Rose, Norah and their dad Joe (Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine). I can't say exactly how it affected dear old dad because Joe's story is only partially told. The trauma leads Norah to seek out a kindred spirit in Lynn (Mary Lynn Rasjskub, Mysterious Skin) with surprisingly contrary results. The effects on Rose isn't as apparent; she continually tries to attack her problems with a determinedly cheery outlook, though her facade appears on the verge of shattering with each breath.

The expressive faces of Amy Adams and Emily Blunt lift Sunshine Cleaning out of complete mediocrity. As my wife put it, I'd have hated to have been in drama class competing for lead roles against either of these two. The two actresses convey such convincing emotions that you want to cheer or cry with them, even if you're not sure what you're reacting to. Arkin gives a fun but all too brief turn as Joe. As Winston, the one-armed owner of a cleaning supply shop, Clifton Collins, Jr. (Traffic) is underused though he becomes an increasingly important part of the Lorkowskis' lives.

Dirty Undies
Even with the ladies cleaning up spattered human remains, director Christine Jeffs is careful to avoid showing anything worse than a few drying pools of blood. Rose's adulterous affair does provide a fair amount of flesh from Adams and Zhan, but the fun stuff is left up to your imagination.

The Money Shot
I give a standing ovation to casting director Avy Kaufman who couldn't have chosen a better cast of actors for the project. There's nothing particularly bad about Sunshine Cleaning; it's just that in this case, great performances in a mediocre story still results in a mediocre story.

The Glamorous. The Flossy-flossy.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Release: 03/07/2008
Rated PG-13
1 hour, 32 minutes

Full Price ($$$$) <> Matinee ($$$)

Our story begins on the eve of World War II. After being discharged from her services as a governess, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew, portrayed by Frances McDormand (Friends with Money), finds herself once again at a London unemployment office. Pleading and desperate for work, she snatches the card of a potential employer. The card leads her to the flat of Delysia Lafosse, played by Amy Adams (Serving Sara). From the moment she arrives, Miss Pettigrew is sucked into the sordid social circle of the aspiring actress-singer. The hungry and penniless Pettigrew is swept into a glamorous world of delicacies and extravagance as fantasy and reality collide.

Frumpy. Dowdy. Haggard. Unkempt. All are excellent words to describe the initial impression of Miss Pettigrew. However, McDormand breathes a combination of determination, ingenuity and compassion that shines through the muck and the mire. Good thing for her because Amy Adams sparkles. Adams commands the screen as the easily panicked but outwardly cool Delysia. She’s a saucy minx who dangles her affections amid three gentleman callers who bear gifts of love, fortune, and celebrity. The three suitors don’t really matter; it’s the apparent contrasts between the women that fuel this engaging affair.

The scenes pop with the décor and fashion of the period. The story moves quickly thanks to the snappy dialogue and the actresses’ skills. Visually, the camera is sluggish in comparison to the sizzle of the surroundings; a shame given the fiery performances. I got the sense the director was trying to capture the simpler feel of films from that era, but since I know nothing about said films, I cannot say if he accomplished this goal.

Dirty Undies
Oooooohhh, so close! There’s a very, very nice bathtub scene that reminds me of the Birth of Venus painting. The scene reveals a lot of Adams’ curves and for the briefest of moments I thought we’d get a glimpse of those redwoods, but it was not to be. However, costar Tom Payne does give us an eyeful. The only other noteworthy moments are Adams’ randy conversations and sensual mannerisms.

Folks may recognize actress Shirley Henderson playing Delysia’s friend, Edythe. You may be more familiar with her as Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter series.

The Money Shot
Certainly not the best made or most clever film I have ever seen but one that’s worth watching on the merits of its stars. I do know that despite being predictable, it was a delight being along for the ride.

P.S. I am beginning to wonder if my medication is thinning out the manliness in me because this makes the third romantic comedy in as many months that I have enjoyed.