She was bigger than life, with an undeniable joie de vivre, and she changed the way Americans thought about cooking. She waltzed around her kitchen, wearing her ubiquitous pearls, preparing dishes so delectable we could practically smell them through the television. Generations of “foodies” were born because of Julia Child, and her signature sign off, “Bon Appétit!” became an essential catchphrase we used when we knew we were about to eat a really great meal.

She was a self proclaimed Government drone by day, renegade foodie by night. Too old for theatre, too young for children, and too bitter for anything else, Julie Powell was looking for a challenge. Risking her marriage, her job, and her cats’ well-being, she signed on for a deranged assignment. A blog. 365 days. Test all 536 recipes from Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.”

Meryl Streep is Julia Child and Amy Adams is Julie Powell in writer-director Nora Ephron’s adaptation of two bestselling memoirs: Powell’s Julie & Julia and My Life in France, by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme. “Julie & Julia” intertwines the lives of the two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends…until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.

Streep embodies Julia Child, delivering a flawless performance as the intrepid chef with the burbling, yet melodic voice. A lesser actress might have slipped into caricature; Meryl has no false moments. Stanley Tucci, Streep’s co-star in “The Devil Wears Prada,” is the perfect salt to her pepper, as Child’s beloved husband, Paul. Amy Adams, who co-starred with Streep in last year’s “Doubt,” brings a depth of desperation and determination, and never makes us forget that the story is about both Julie AND Julia. Even though the two actresses are never onscreen together, they make for a very memorable movie couple.

Ephron assembles all the right ingredients, deftly blending the two character’s stories: Julia had to forge new ground as a lone woman in a male dominated industry, Julie had to find her way out of a dead end world. Both women discovered cooking, not just as food, but as an affirmation of love and life.

As light as a lemon soufflé, and as warm and welcome as Beef Bourguignon, “Julie & Julia” easily rises above the fast food comedies currently playing in theaters. As Julia would say, “Bon Appétit!”

(Running Time: 2 hr. 3 min. MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language and some sensuality.)

Big Fat Rating: ★★★★

My Sister’s Keeper

After their daughter is stricken with leukemia, a couple conceives a younger sister who can provide a donor match, but the family is torn apart when, after years of medical procedures, the healthy younger sibling sues her parents for the right to decide how her body is used.

Message to Cameron Diaz: Honey, you’re a terrific little comedian. I’ll gladly go to see “Charlie’s Angels 3″ if you’ll stop doing dramas. Seriously. You’re annoying.

Despite strong performances from Abigail Breslin and Sofia Vassilieva (Medium,) My Sister’s Keeper never rises above Lifetime Movie fare. Every now and then I like a good cry, but I would rather pluck a nose hair than have to sit through this film again.

Running Time: 1 hr. 46 min. MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality, language and brief teen drinking.

Big Fat Rating:2 1/2

Year One

When a couple of lazy hunter-gatherers (Jack Black and Michael Cera) are banished from their primitive village, they set off on an epic journey through the ancient world.  With Judd Apatow producing, Harold Ramis directing, and Jack Black starring, “Year One” should be a whole lot funnier. Rent “Mel Brooks’ History of the World: Part I” instead.

Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min. MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout, brief strong language and comic violence.

Big Fat Rating:★★1/2

Land of the Lost

Will Ferrell stars as a crackpot scientist who is transported through time and space in this only so-so remake of the cheesy 1970s TV show. 

Space-time vortexes suck. Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall (Ferrell) is sucked into one and spat back through time. Way back.

Now, Marshall has no weapons, few skills and questionable smarts to survive in an alternate universe full of marauding dinosaurs and fantastic creatures from beyond our world. Sucked alongside him for the adventure are crack-smart research assistant Holly (Anna Friel – “Pushing Daisies”) and a redneck survivalist named Will (Danny McBride.)

Chased by T. Rex and stalked by painfully slow reptiles known as Sleestaks, Marshall, Will and Holly must rely on their only ally — a primate called Chaka to navigate out of the hybrid dimension. Escape from this routine expedition gone awry and they’re heroes. Get stuck, and they’ll be permanent refugees in the Land of the Lost.

Land of the Lost should have remained lost in studio development, and it is a good example of why it’s never a good idea to make a parody of a parody. Come on, Will… you can do better than this.

Running Time:1 hr. 41 min. MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual content, and for language including a drug reference.

Big Fat Rating: ★★1/2

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Ben Stiller returns as the bewildered night watchman who witnesses exhibits coming alive…

Shawn Levy (“Cheaper by the Dozen” “Just Married”) directs the sequel of his hit film “Night at the Museum.” Night guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller,) now a successful entrepreneur, returns to the Museum of Natural History to visit his friends–the exhibits that come to life at night–only to learn that they are being shipped off into deep storage at the Smithsonian Institution.

To make matters worse, the exhibits at the Smithsonian, including the pharaoh Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria), are suddenly coming to life–and they aren’t at all happy about their new visitors. Determined to save his friends, Larry rushes to Washington, D.C., and makes his way into the inner workings of the largest museum complex in the world while Kahmunrah recruits the likes of Ivan the Terrible (Christopher Guest,) Napoleon (Alain Chabat,) and Al Capone (Jon Bernthal.) Larry, meanwhile, finds himself with spunky Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) as a co-conspirator and love interest, and General Custer (Bill Hader) leading the battle for the Smithsonian.

The stakes are higher in this sequel, where even the paintings on the Smithsonian walls come to life at night. Stiller is his capable deadpan self as the now-successful Larry who finds purpose again while helping his friends, and Adams is spot-on as feisty, adventure-seeking Earhart, complete with period lingo. Azaria is a scene-stealer as Kahmunrah, who is menacing despite his lisp. Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams, and Ricky Gervais also reprise their roles in this sequel, which is the first film to be shot at the Smithsonian. Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart is a smart addition to the mix. If you liked the original, you’ll love Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.

Running Time: 1 hr. 45min. MPAA Rating: PG for mild action and brief language.

Big Fat Rating: ★★★