Movie Review: Eat, Pray, Love

TITLE: Eat, Pray, Love
PEOPLE INVOLVED: Ryan Murphy (dude who is involved in Glee), Julia Roberts, Haviar Bardem, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup
RELEASED: Summer 2010
BASED ON: book by the same name by Elizabeth Gilbert
PREMISE: A lost woman goes on a journey through Italy, India, and Bali to find herself.
MY REVIEW: I had low expectations in starting this movie. I've never read the book, and I frankly am trying to talk myself into reading it because it just doesn't sound like something I'd get into. So for once, I'm seeing a movie with not reading the book beforehand. My bad, guys. But I do know the basic story and the major arguements for and against the book so hey, that's something right?
So first off, my low expectations? Met and didn't really exceed it. Granted, there were a few nice moments. Some really great lines ("American women only want one thing here in Italy. Pasta and sausage!"), and I did get a kick out of the side characters. Plus the cinimatic photagraphy in this movie is GORGEOUS. Also, Havier Bardem who is enough for me to see a movie frankly. Yes, I'm that shallow sometimes, although I didn't think there was enough of him in my opinion.
The problem however lies in the main character and the storyline. Frankly, both are boring. The storyline is utterly predictable and the character wasn't that interesting to be honest, in fact I kind of found her...annoying? Which believe me is a first for a me watching a Julia Roberts movie because she has this tendancy to make characters that I'd normally dislike and make me like them (see Erin Brockovich). But this character...I don't know she irked me. I think it was maybe because I couldn't really relate to her (how did she get the money and time to do this? Makes no sense to me, especially seeing as how they said she was broke after the divorce...)and found her whiny and kind of selfish. It kind of got to the point where I'd wish the movie would cut her story out completely and just focus on the scenary (did I mention it was gorgeous?).
So is it a great movie? Not really. Is it a horrible movie? No. Best I can call it is mediocre.
WHO SHOULD SEE: those that have read (and liked) the book, Julia Roberts fans
MY RATING: Three and a half out of Five bali dancers