Based on Elizabeth Gilbert's wildly popular memoir, the film rendition has the tough task of taking a largely philosophical and observational tome and transforming it into drama. At one point the Liz character asks another character why he only talks in bumper stickers and the same can be said about the film. The story never delves too deep into what makes its characters tick. So what does this film have to offer then? It's part wish fulfillment and part pop philosophy pick-me-up and part gorgeous travelogue.
Liz Gilbert is played by movie star Julia Roberts. Some might find the episode regarding her buying big jeans a cruel joke when the rail skinny Roberts tries to squeeze into a size 0. But I digress. Gilbert has been married to Stephen (Billy Crudup, ALMOST FAMOUS) for seven years, but hasn't found wedded bliss. She decides she's had enough and files for divorce, but Stephen won't let her go easily. She meets a young actor named David Piccolo (James Franco, MILK) and falls into his arms like a cartoon character jumping off a high dive into a paper cup. But she's still not satisfied. She wants to make a bold change and take a year off, living in Italy then India and finally returning to Bali where the medicine man Ketut (Hadi Subiyanto) told her she would have a short marriage and a long one, but didn't know at the time which one she was in.
What Liz thought she wanted in her 20s is not what she wants in her 30s. Stephen is aimless in his life as well, switching occupations on a whim, and Liz sees that they are two lost souls who have wandered in different directions. She can't see happiness in both staying and leaving Stephen. Gilbert is consumed with guilt over breaking Stephen's heart. David is a band-aid, but she sees the same pattern developing with him that happened with Stephen and she refuses to remain unhappy with someone just because she is afraid of stepping out of comfortableness and possibly into ruin.
In Italy, Liz eats and falls in love with the people and the language and the idea of finding pleasure in doing nothing. In India, Liz prays and falls into sorrow over love. Italy was like a fantasy and India a harsh reality. In meditation at an ashram, she can only think of herself and she's not happy with what she sees. She relates to the 17-year-old devotee Tulsi (Rushita Singh, HALLA BOL), who fears that her arranged marriage will prevent her from studying psychology. She butts heads with Richard from Texas (Richard Jenkins, THE VISITOR), who has a way of being right in your face about self-pity. In Bali, she finds love. Felipe (Javier Bardem, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) is a divorced businessman, emphasis on the man. When Liz proclaims she doesn't need a husband as everyone claims, he replies that she doesn't need a man, but a champion.
Director Ryan Murphy's adaptation with Jennifer Salt meanders in search of a story from time to time, getting drunk on its own fortune cookie words of wisdom. This happens most of the time in the Italian section. But the food and locations are tasty. In developing, the relationship between Liz and Felipe, the film plays on romantic clichés like the man almost running over the woman in the meet cute moment. And of course there has to be the big break up followed by the run to moment. But the actors sell it enough and motivations are established solidly so that nothing seems too forced, just not completely fresh.
Roberts certainly has the screen presence to carry this film on her shoulders. In some of her more contemplative moments, she reminded me of Katharine Hepburn in David Lean's SUMMERTIME, another film about a woman traveling to Italy to reinvigorate her life. Two other supporting performances stood out. In the thankless role of Gilbert's publisher and friend, Delia Shiraz, Oscar nominee Viola Davis brings dry wit to punchlines that she seems to transform into character development. It's a shame she disappears after the start of the film. Then in India, Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins steals the show. His dynamic Texan hippie is truly a force of nature and won't stop pushing Liz to let go. Jenkins' emotional recounting of why he came to India is the most powerful in the film.
Many will call this film shallow and I'd admit it's not deeper than a small cup of gelato. But gelato it is. It's comfort food for the soul. How it tastes to you depends on what your fantasies are and how much you can stomach sugary philosophy. But who hasn't fantasized at one time or another about chucking their lives and seeing the world? The film starts with a story of Cambodian refugees who have been through horrendous ordeals, finally arriving in refugee camps and having a chance to talk to therapists. And all they want to talk about is love. And that's what this film wants to talk about. Love of food. Love of pretty locations. Love of spiritual healing. Love of love.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
