--- title: "Julie & Julia: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/julie-and-julia/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/julie-and-julia" critics_score: 66 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Julie & Julia (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 66 from 15 reviews: 7 positive, 6 mixed, 2 negative. The reviews lean favourable, though enthusiasm for Julie & Julia is less consistent than the praise for Meryl Streep. Her portrayal of Julia Child draws approval across the critical divide for its warmth, humour and conviction. Stanley Tucci also earns praise, particularly for the believable, affectionate marriage he creates with Streep. Supportive critics find the film funny and comforting, with enough feeling in its domestic scenes to give the sweetness substance. Reservations centre on the pairing of Child’s life with Julie Powell’s story, which several critics find shallow or less engaging by comparison. The spread is broad: some welcome the romance and lightness, while others find the film slow, overlong or too sentimental. Variety offers the sharpest dissent, arguing that the tidy parallel stories trivialise Child’s legacy and leave opportunities for vivid food imagery unexplored. Even the negative reviews, however, make room for Streep’s performance. ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 September 2008. Errigo finds the film deliciously funny and warming, with a winning love story. She especially praises Meryl Streep’s performance as Julia Child, calling it brilliant and deeply touching. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/julie-julia-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Russ Parsons Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2009. Parsons recommends the film and finds it superb on several levels. He especially praises Meryl Streep’s deeply convincing portrayal of Julia Child. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/food/la-fo-calcook12-2009aug12-story.html) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2009. Philip French finds the film delightful, civilised and engaging, with Meryl Streep’s affectionate, humorous portrayal of Julia Child a highlight. He faults the film for omitting British cook Elizabeth David’s contribution to popularising French and Mediterranean cooking. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/sep/13/julie-julia-review) ## Radio Times — Stella Papamichael Rating 4/5. The review is positive about the film. It especially praises Meryl Streep’s lively, humorous portrayal of Julia Child. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-5rklgi/julie-julia/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page was inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint could be verified from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/julie-and-julia-2009) ## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 24 July 2009. The available page identifies this as a review, but its critical verdict is not visible. No specific praise or complaint can be established from the accessible text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/julie-and-julia/5003918.article) ## Slant Magazine — Dan Callahan Rating 2.5/4. 5 August 2009. Callahan finds the film charming but ultimately overlong and too lovey-dovey. He praises Meryl Streep’s lively portrayal of Julia Child and the believable marriage she creates with Stanley Tucci. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/julie-and-julia/) ## Time Out — Nina Caplan Rating 3/5. 8 September 2009. Caplan gives the film three out of five, indicating a qualified verdict. The available excerpt introduces Ephron’s adaptation of two foodie memoirs but does not reveal what Caplan singles out for praise or criticism. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/julie-julia) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Rating C. 6 August 2009. Phipps finds the film uneven, with Julia Child’s story charming and Julie Powell’s side shallow by comparison. He praises Meryl Streep’s thoughtful portrayal of Child and the domestic rapport she shares with Stanley Tucci. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/julie-julia-1798206711) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 24 July 2009. The critic finds the film enjoyable but ultimately a mixed blessing, wishing it offered a more nuanced portrait of its women. He praises Meryl Streep’s uncanny performance and the inviting cinematography and score, while faulting the parallel story for diminishing Julia Child’s experiences. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/julie-julia-film-review-93379/) ## Total Film — Jane Crowther Rating 2/5. 17 August 2009. Crowther finds the film slow and unengaging, with Julie’s story lacking a compelling reason to care. She praises Meryl Streep’s spirited, funny performance as Julia Child, supported by Stanley Tucci. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/julie-julia-review/) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 6 August 2009. Chang finds the film overstuffed and overly neat in its pairing of Julia Child’s biography with Julie Powell’s story. He praises Meryl Streep’s warm, funny performance but faults the film for trivializing Child’s legacy and missing opportunities for vivid food imagery. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/julie-julia-2-1200475740/) ## Digital Spy — Stella Papamichael Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2009. The critic finds the film delightful, clever and substantial, despite its occasionally overly light approach. They single out the fizzing chemistry between Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci as especially warming and fun. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a175706/julie-julia/) ## HeyUGuys — Emily Breen Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2009. The critic finds the film entertaining, amusing, and beautifully told, despite some reservations about its caricatured moments. She especially praises Stanley Tucci’s grounded, tender performance as Julia Child’s husband. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/review-julie-julia/) ## Paste — Alissa Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 August 2009. Wilkinson finds the film a satisfying, warm-hearted meal, though Julie’s story pales beside Julia’s. She especially praises Meryl Streep’s complete inhabitation of Julia Child. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/meryl-streep/julie-julia) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/julie-and-julia.md