The leading lady of this story, played by Julia Roberts, left a structured, stable life in New York simply because she felt unfulfilled. And maybe its because I am in my mid-twenties, but life does not seem that hopeless that I would need to travel around the globe to find meaning. Roberts's character had a life that she signed up for, not to say that it was a perfect life. In my life, you make the big decisions carefully along the way and evaluate as you go. If there is any hesitation, you take a look and figure out which piece is broken and fix it. With this character, she considered her entire life as broken, beyond repair. I just question how her life could be so dire that she gave it all up. It seemed selfish and simply self-centered.
Again, maybe its because I am in the early stages of my career and haven't tied myself to anything for the rest of my life. I just feel that someone in search of the huge meaning of life whether its around the world or in your own backyard, you are going to come up sorely disappointed. In my experience, life is truly about the little moments that surprise you. I have been to the other side of the globe, it is moving and magical and breathtaking. But the moments that changed my life in my own backyard and on the other side of the globe were more significant and life-changing because of the people I was with and my own personal frame of mind and acceptance of what life offers.
The other reason that this movie didn't sit well with me was that it constantly sounded like a fortune cookie. Someone in the film even mentions talking in bumper sticker and it is annoyingly true. Every other line is designed to be profound and constantly make you feel like it is changing your life. It was so cliche that I felt forced to be moved by the film, which made me less moved. Every line wanted to generate her second lease on life, to prove that everything in life to be so amazing. While life will continue to be messy and troubled, the true gift is the opportunity to try it all again the next day, regardless of your profound location.
Roberts would sweep into a country make friends so quickly that it seemed desperate and superficial, and left them as quickly as she came. Some of them were more charismatic and more interesting then the main character, but they were abandoned as she moved on to the next location. But that seemed to be the point of her whole trip, fulfill herself regardless of the cost to others, not to mention the financial cost.
The Reel Reviewer strongly suggests that you run the opposite direction and do not Eat Pray or Love.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: Eat Pray Love, Julia Roberts
