There is a very fine line and the movie apparently has no certain direction. Is it a romantic light-hearted Hollywood drama or is it a motivational spiritually-awakening life changer?
The problem with this type of movies is that many people would actually believe it, they'd buy the story. At least a bunch of viewers would set in the footsteps of the main character to redefine their life journey and go to Italy for example and blantantly expect to find their love while performing all things cliché to the localals.
I somehow agreed with the first 2 parts; there was fiction whimsicality, as there should be since it's a movie. And given what the movie is trying to be about it was really obvious. But what redeemed it was all these bits of life philosophy gems now and then.
The 3rd part - it can't be saved from cheesiness. The message would have been much more stronger if she just never returned to Felipe. If only she would just go anywhere else - back to US, stay in Bali or wherever and actually see for herself if she could apply this newly discovered mentality for real and see if she benefits from this lifestyle.
I mean, don't get me wrong - I liked Felipe's character but something about their relationship was really forced. Both divorced, both afraid to open up their hearts again, both fear being hurt again. Creating both characters as having that much in common perhaps insinuates them being a perfect match in theory, but ... are they really? The story had given us no definite answer. What is it that makes them two deserve eachother after so much struggles and reflections from the main character's part? Instead of filling their screentime with too many romantic moments, I wish they'd given us some moments where they connect spiritually, not only phisicality or flashing chemistry. This way it would've been more believable that those two characters are to share their journeys toghether. We already know she's a catch, it's obvious that he's hot - but after all those 2 hours - we're left to be second guessing their spiritual bond. This makes him no different than the "let's-swim-naked" guy, who she cut off by saying something of the sort "I dated you 15 years ago and 6 months ago too."
By casting such a beaux as Javier Bardem and introducing him last minute - it just screams "and they lived happily ever after *bird eye shot of the sunset* ending". It would have been a great resolution if she chose herself! And move forward to see if she could REALLY translate her new habits into a sustainable lifestyle. Because that's what she wanted, isn't it?
I don't think all of the above would bother me that much if the premise of the movie was sort of a sequal to "Sex and the City" type of movie.
"Eat Pray Love" just had the potential to be something more.
The problem with this type of movies is that many people would actually believe it, they'd buy the story. At least a bunch of viewers would set in the footsteps of the main character to redefine their life journey and go to Italy for example and blantantly expect to find their love while performing all things cliché to the localals.
I somehow agreed with the first 2 parts; there was fiction whimsicality, as there should be since it's a movie. And given what the movie is trying to be about it was really obvious. But what redeemed it was all these bits of life philosophy gems now and then.
The 3rd part - it can't be saved from cheesiness. The message would have been much more stronger if she just never returned to Felipe. If only she would just go anywhere else - back to US, stay in Bali or wherever and actually see for herself if she could apply this newly discovered mentality for real and see if she benefits from this lifestyle.
I mean, don't get me wrong - I liked Felipe's character but something about their relationship was really forced. Both divorced, both afraid to open up their hearts again, both fear being hurt again. Creating both characters as having that much in common perhaps insinuates them being a perfect match in theory, but ... are they really? The story had given us no definite answer. What is it that makes them two deserve eachother after so much struggles and reflections from the main character's part? Instead of filling their screentime with too many romantic moments, I wish they'd given us some moments where they connect spiritually, not only phisicality or flashing chemistry. This way it would've been more believable that those two characters are to share their journeys toghether. We already know she's a catch, it's obvious that he's hot - but after all those 2 hours - we're left to be second guessing their spiritual bond. This makes him no different than the "let's-swim-naked" guy, who she cut off by saying something of the sort "I dated you 15 years ago and 6 months ago too."
By casting such a beaux as Javier Bardem and introducing him last minute - it just screams "and they lived happily ever after *bird eye shot of the sunset* ending". It would have been a great resolution if she chose herself! And move forward to see if she could REALLY translate her new habits into a sustainable lifestyle. Because that's what she wanted, isn't it?
I don't think all of the above would bother me that much if the premise of the movie was sort of a sequal to "Sex and the City" type of movie.
"Eat Pray Love" just had the potential to be something more.
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