“Julie & Julia” is not lacking in entertainment value, especially with the Streep performance. But if the men had been portrayed as more high-spirited, it might have taken on intriguing dimensions. Both husbands are, frankly, a little boring: They’ve been assigned their supporting roles in their marriages and are reluctant to question the singlemindedness of their wives.

Dude. If this were a film about two male chefs (or, more accurately, a male chef and a male blogger chef-wannabe), and their wives merely stood around in the background making encouraging noises, no one would blink, because female character as male support network is simply business as usual in Hollywood movies.

Indeed, this may be part of what I found so inviting about Julie and Julia: it is such a relief to see two female characters simply following their passions. Though both characters face uniquely female hurdles (especially Child), the film treats them as full, well-rounded humans.

Streep is just delightful: the body language, the voice, the bonhomie brimming over throughout the film. She’s clearly playing Julia as cultural touchstone, not Julia as biographical person, but it works. The chemistry and ease between Tucci and Streep makes the whole film work.

I was not eagerly awaiting this; I never liked Powell’s blog, her voice, her persona, and I was a trifle disgusted that Julia Child’s memoir pic got tangled up with Powell’s blog-to-book. But The Fella brought home a preview copy in case I wanted to write a review.

On watching, I was startled at how effectively the narrative faced Powell’s shallow and self-centered character*, only diffusing it a little with twinkle and charm. Frankly, I wasn’t sure Nora Ephron would know that this simpering, blabbering person was unlikeable.

*There’s a great conversation an hour or so in: Julie Powell’s dear friend announces that she’s broken up with her boyfriend, and Powell’s response is [paraphrased] Oh, that’s awful, I didn’t even ask! I am self-centered! and then she’s off again talking about her own problems. Even as she agonizes over being self-absorbed and needy, she is demonstrating it. I just wanted to hit with a saucier.