Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Find-your-bliss film appeals but raises questions, too.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Eat Pray Love
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say the movie has garnered mixed reactions, with some viewers finding it inspiring and life-altering, while others viewed it as boring or frustrating, primarily due to the main character's personality. The varying opinions suggest that while the film explores themes of self-discovery and relationships, it may not resonate with everyone, particularly younger audiences or those seeking an engaging plot.
- mixed reactions
- inspiring themes
- character annoyance
- boring moments
- age-appropriate
- scenery appreciated
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Writer Elizabeth Gilbert (Julia Roberts) suddenly finds herself feeling trapped in a marriage she doesn't want, in a life she didn't envision. Despite the fact that she chose to fashion that very life, now she wants out -- and that realization will destroy her husband (Billy Crudup) and worry her friends. A love affair with a young actor (James Franco) isn't the answer, and neither is disappearing into her sorrows. So she decides to go to Italy, where she hopes to rediscover her passion for food, and, perhaps, life; to India, where she seeks spiritual connection; and to Bali, where she may finally forgive herself. It's there that she meets a Brazilian man (Javier Bardem) who just might convince her that love is worth the risk.
Is It Any Good?
All hail Julia Roberts: As Elizabeth Gilbert's avatar in this cinematic adaptation of the bestselling memoir Eat Pray Love, she's luminous and beautiful. Her faint wrinkles assure us that she hasn't been Botoxed or plastic-surgeried to death, and she's every bit the likable America's sweetheart she's known to be. With her in the starring role, a supporting cast filled with the likes of Bardem, Franco, Crudup, Viola Davis, and Richard Jenkins, and an inspired-by-real-life story set against some of the most photogenic locales in the world, how can it go wrong?
On one level, it doesn't. The film is convincingly stirring, and it hits all of the emotional notes that movies like these are supposed to hit. It's dreamy, it makes you think, and it even makes you cry. But poetic and unforgettable it's not. Some moments have been fashioned with heavy hands; you can feel the filmmakers pushing you to Feel Something. The film skates over why Liz can't abide the life she leads and the wreckage she leaves behind. And it incites the same debate that the book itself did: Is this chronicling a so-called self-indulgent journey that only the affluent can embark upon? Is it superficial? Or is it transformative? And does that matter when the film is, yes, entertaining?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's messages. Who do you think it's trying to reach? What is it saying to that audience?
Liz finds her bliss through a complete change in scenery, literally and figuratively. How realistic is this option for most people? What do you think would have happened if she hadn't been able to escape?
What eventually persuades Liz to leave her husband? Is her struggle relatable? Believable?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 13, 2010
- On DVD or streaming : November 23, 2010
- Cast : Billy Crudup , Javier Bardem , Julia Roberts
- Director : Ryan Murphy
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 133 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brief strong language, some sexual references and male rear nudity
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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