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

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox return, joining with the Autobots® against their sworn enemies, the Decepticons®. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has more product placement than Saturday morning kid’s programming a month before Christmas.

If you liked Transformers, you will no doubt like the sequel. It’s big and noisy and full of metal things that turn into bigger, noisier metal things, and if that’s the way you like your movies, go for it. Despite a few youthful indiscretions, LaBeouf has shown why he’s ready for bigger and better roles, and though he probably made megabucks starring in this film, he deserves better.

Please, someone stop Michael Bay before he makes Part 3!

MPAA Rating: PG-13  for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, language, some crude and sexual material, and brief drug material.

Big Fat Rating:★★

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