Escape to eat and to pray and to love

Columbia Pictures presents a film directed by Ryan Murphy. Screenplay by Murphy and
Jennifer Salt. Running time: 141 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for brief strong language, some
sexual references and male rear nudity).Cast & Credits

Liz Gilbert ….. Julia Roberts
Richard ……… Richard Jenkins
Stephen …….. Billy Crudup
David ………… James Franco
Felipe ……….. Javier Bardem

Much like many three word corporate advertising slogans, Eat Pray Love quickly queue’s
you in on its core values or in this case, the structure of the film.

A common trait movie audiences share is their desire to escape reality. In this case, to
travel to Italy, India, and Bali where we share in this escape with a tall blonde American
(Liz Gilbert) on an attempt to create her new identity far from a husband she doesn’t love
anymore.

Julia Roberts (Gilbert) is still able to pull off her unique sense of homegrown sexiness
she first showcased in Mystic Pizza. Several charming talented actors—James Franco,
Javier Bardem, Richard Jenkins, Billy Crudup—and beautiful settings also aid to the Eat
Pray Love’s sensual appeal.

But, it seems these strong performances and beautiful images aren’t enough to save
what should have been a simply told, visually elegant internal journey.

Paired against characters she meets on her quest for self-enlightenment, forgiveness,
love—we’re never sure which—her story seems petty. These characters never get
developed or explored and are much more intriguing and dramatic material—alcoholism,
arranged marriage, and abusive relationships—than someone traveling around the world
to mend a broken heart.

Having never read the book “Eat, Pray, Love,” it’s hard to say for sure—although the
book was a New York Times best seller for 150 weeks—but I can’t imagine any of the
scripts’ qualities were a self-creation. Of which there are inspired moments, with weight
that impart on the viewer some sort of life lesson or wisdom but they seemingly come
out of no where. There is no visual weight—just a good helping of random subtext with
no visual, surface story or time to care or to follow.

If the film had been made during the time of the civil rights movie it would be a beautiful
thing. It would have showed Hollywood’s braveness to have a woman divorce her
husband and go find herself.

We live in an era where this sort of thing happens often. The divorce rate is as high as
it’s ever been. Women leave men. And, for all sorts of reasons. So, this isn’t enough to
save Eat Pray Love either.

But, if you want to see beautiful people in beautiful places with little to no story and some
infrequent moments of enlightenment, see Eat Pray Love.