U.K. film site HeyYouGuys (such a weird name) has scored the international trailer for “Eat Pray Love,” a new romantic drama that boasts a strong cast in Julia Roberts, James Franco, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup, and Javier Bardem. The picture is directed by Ryan Murphy, creator of of the TV series “Nip/Tuck” and the obviously of-the-moment show, “Glee.”
While this writer is always personally rooting for the female driven drama that hopefully doesn’t condescend to its audience, the picture unfortunately looks more like one a hackneyed self-realization films about a modern day career woman who wants more out of life (this is where you gag yourself). Perhaps we should have known better, considering it’s based off a best-selling book with the subtitle, “One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia.” Not knowing anything about that novel or its author Elizabeth Gilbert, there’s not necessarily anything wrong with that concept, but these films tend to fester in sentimental life-fulfilling spirituality themes and this one doesn’t appear that much different. That said, looking at the trailer overall? It could have been a lot worse. Here’s the synopsis.
Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having – a husband, a house, a successful career – yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali. Based upon the bestselling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love proves that there really is more than one way to let yourself go and see the world.
There’s probably a big audience for this one too and it could be the same one that flocked to the almost excellent “Julie & Julia,” we’ll see. And the second half of the trailer with Javier Bardem doesn’t look that bad (40-year-old woman deserve love too you know), but we’re still on the fence. The picture hits theaters August 13 via Sony Pictures.
