Eat Pray Love - A Movie Review

The people who you meet in your travels are teachers.

Eat Pray Love flew into theaters in 2010. Based on a bestselling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, the movie follows the journey of Liz, a recently divorced woman who embarks on a year-long trip around the world to rediscover happiness.

If there’s any movie that makes you want to get up off the couch and explore the world, Eat Pray Love is the one. Traveling to some scenic locations and devouring delicious plates of food, one day I want to head to Elizabeth’s advice. One of the film’s most significant messages is the transformative power of travel.

Julia Roberts boldly took on the role of Elizabeth, a struggling woman who longs to find a purpose. Roberts delivers a nuanced portrayal of a woman going through a profound personal transformation.

Feeling like her life is at a standstill, Elizabeth makes several difficult decisions, one being a divorce from her husband. Viewers have varied opinions about Elizabeth’s motivations. She does have everything she needs. Then again, everyone is different.

Eat Pray Love has an important line that has stuck with me. The people you meet are teachers. I never thought of it like that. In our travels, we meet several people who help us learn about cultures or gain advice.

An assortment of actors appear in the film such as Javier Bardem, James Franco, Viola Davis, and Sophie Thompson. The supporting cast adds depth and complexity to their respective roles, making the characters feel real and relatable. Elizabeth has a different relationship with each person, learning about herself or the culture.

Traveling to several different locations; Italy, India, and Bali, we explore several different locations in each of these places, including jungles. Now I want to travel to these destinations. The film presents a stunning visual of all three countries immersing audiences in the culture, sights, and sounds of these places.

Just like her character, Roberts gained 10 pounds from rating all the delectable plates of food. The pizza looked so tasty and I could just smell the cheesy crust. Aside from exploring all the sites, eating is another must on a trip. Vacation eating is the best!

Cataloging excellent cinematography, Ryan Murphy highlights the ways in which traveling to new places and experiencing different cultures can help individuals gain new perspectives, connect with themselves and others, and find a purpose.

We have seen this story play out a multitude of times in films centered around traveling. Eat Pray Love is not what it is without flaws. While Liz travels through these different cultures, there’s a lack of diversity. The film spends more focus on Liz instead of the people she meets.

The plot was predictable at times and the pacing was a little slow. I wasn’t satisfied with the ending. Liz’s actions came off as selfish when asked to pursue a relationship that she is happy in. What does she want?

I love to travel. Movies about travel signify a moral that you need to step outside of your comfort zone and travel to other countries. Traveling to a new country can be a stressful endeavor. Years ago, I traveled to Sweden. As stressful as packing all your belongings and maneuvering through the airport is, the experience was well worth it. Sometimes the most meaningful parts of life are when you step out of your comfort zone.

This movie has resonated with many travel-starved viewers. Emphasizing themes like personal growth and self-discovery, Eat Pray Love is worth the watch. You may find yourself wanting to go on a vacation after the movie.