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Avg. Critic Score: 66 out of 100 Generally favorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
13 OK for kids 13+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 83
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    It hooks you up, happily, to your inner top chef. Read full review

  • 80
    Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan

    A consummate entertainment that echoes the rhythms and attitudes of classic Hollywood, it's a satisfying throwback to those old-fashioned movie fantasies where impossible dreams do come true. And, in this case, it really happened. Twice. Read full review

  • 80
    The New York Times | A.O. Scott

    Julie & Julia proceeds with such ease and charm that its audacity -- is easy to miss. Read full review

  • 75
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    Few movies are as delightful as Julie & Julia. Read full review

  • 75
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    Meryl Streep -- at her brilliant, beguiling best -- is the spice that does the trick for the yummy Julie & Julia. Read full review

  • 75
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Spiced with plenty of humor and affection. Read full review

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt

    As enjoyable as this foodie movie is, you wish it would take a deeper, more nuanced measure of the women who, in two different eras, star in the movie's kitchens. Read full review

  • 63
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Julie & Julia is not lacking in entertainment value, especially with the Streep performance. But if the men had been portrayed as more high-spirited, it might have taken on intriguing dimensions. Read full review

  • 60
    Washington Post | Ann Hornaday

    A movie that soars whenever Child is on the screen and sags when Powell shows up. Read full review

  • 50
    Variety | Justin Chang

    This middling melange of Child biopic and contempo dramedy feels overstuffed and predigested as it depicts two ladies who found fame and fulfillment in their respective eras by cooking and writing about it. Read full review

View more reviews for Julie & Julia on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+ Tempting Meryl Streep dramedy is OK but may bore kids.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that although this dramedy is ultimately upbeat, it isn't all sugary sweet. The protagonists -- strong female characters played by Amy Adams and Meryl Streep -- both undergo identity crises of sorts and must grapple with all that entails, a theme that may not appeal to tweens and under (though the soul-searching's not too deep).There's some swearing (including one use of "f--k"), and the movie's two married couples are comfortable displaying their physical affections, though there's no nudity or graphic love scenes.
  • Families can talk about why Julie felt compelled to set such a lofty goal. Was it just about the cooking? What did she learn besides how to make great food? How is she similar to or different from Julia?
  • How do the two characters stack up as role models?
  • What's the film's take on women’s roles, both then and now? What aboutidentity? What shapes your identity? Your work, your personal life, orboth?
The good stuff
  • message true4 Positive messages: Risk and bravery are rewarded, especially when they're accompanied by persistence and hard work. Both female protagonists have to pay their dues before they achieve success, especially Julia.
  • rolemodels true4 Positive role models: Two strong women find themselves through sheer force of will and creativity. Their husbands are very supportive, as are their friends.
What to watch for
  • violence false0 Violence: McCarthyism’s insidious reach is a subtext of the film.
  • sex false1 Sex: Married couples fall into bed, but there's no nudity except for the occasional bare shoulder. In a description for a food item, male genitalia is mentioned.
  • language false3 Language: “Bitch” pops up a few times, as do “damn,” “s--t,” and “hell.” "F--k" is used once. Other words include "c--k," "ass," "crap," "hell," and "oh my God."
  • consumerism false1 Consumerism: PayPal is mentioned; logos for Salon.com and James Farm butter are visible, as are specific cookbooks.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false2 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Social drinking and smoking (the latter occurring during mostly during the Julia Child segments, when it was more era-accurate).
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Julie & Julia Julie & Julia Interviews: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Director Nora Ephron ! The dynamic trio talk love, food, and Julia Child.