If only this movie was as short as it's title, it would have been a pleasant experience but the 2-hour duration drags and that taints what could have been an interesting film.
If you don't know much about Eat Pray Love, it's the latest star vehicle by Julia Roberts based on a book by Liz Gilbert. A woman leaves her unhappy marraige to find herself through travelling the globe and eating; I bet the book was adored by feminist and all new agey types - I don't know if the movie will pull those same bums back to the cinema though.
For me the shining light about Eat Pray Love is not really Julia Roberts, or Javier Bardem nor the food or the exotic locations or the new age mumbo jumbo that legitimises selfishness as a good trait in a marriage - surely that ain't right?
The shining light in this movie for me was Richard Jenkins' perfomance as Richard from Texas. TV boffins would remember him as Nate's old man in Six Feet Under - yes the ghost. He plays Richard with such tenacity and honesty, reminiscent of Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart.
I wouldn't be surprised if he gets an Oscar nod for this one. Then there's Dr.Manhattan a.k.a Billy Crudup, who plays Gill's husband with the right pitch that captures the man-child of the character.
As soon as the film leaves these characters behind it just got tedious for me. Especially when it started following all the romantic drama/comedies cliches to the 9th degree, complete with obligatory running to car/bus/train/boat with the romantic lead before they disappear or leave town ... ja nee you’ve been warned.