Big Screen Blurb: Eat. Pray. Love.

Mood matters, doesn't it? Sometimes it's the difference between a smart-ass comment being greeted with a chuckle or fist. Mood matters with movies, too. For example, I loved the first Austin Powers movie. For whatever reason, I was in the mood to completely embrace that uniquely stupid brand of humor. On the other hand, I did not like the sequel. The humor had not changed, but I had...or at least I wasn't in the mood for it. Your mood is going to matter with Eat Pray Love as well. If you find yourself with a rather introspective mindset...if you find yourself in need of inspiration for this little thing called 'life'...if you're in need of a few little 'ah...ha' uplifters...well, then this flick might be one to see big. If not, wait. Rent it when the mood hits.

The mood hit me and I liked it. The story follows Liz (Julia Roberts) as she attempts to find herself. Where this native New Yorker initially finds herself is not where she ultimately wants to be: unhappily married to someone that she's just not in-sync with anymore. So, she jets off to Rome, the first of three stops on her way to self discovery. What she discovered in her nine months in Italy was an appetite. She learns a few valuable life lessons, makes some great friends and decides to pack up to connect with her spiritual self. That takes her to India. Yeah, suffering can truly be an invaluable resource in spiritual development, can't it? She spends several months in India before heading to Bali, where the ole ticker gets to pumpin' and yadayadayada the hips get to grindin'.

Roberts is good, not as annoying as in some roles. The cinescape is wonderful. The cultural exposure is interesting to say the least. The messages that accompany each venue prompt introspectively deep thoughts, which prove to be both insightful and invaluable. For all of that, I give it 3.0 stars.

On the down side, it's long. And by long, I mean LOOOOOONG! Eat Pray Love clocks in at 2:20 to be exact. Actually, I would have been content with Eat, Say a Hail Mary and have a Quick Crush if it would have chimed in around 90-100 minutes. But alas, it is what it is: a good flick to check out if and when the mood strikes you!

Best to all,
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