Julie & Julia (2009)

Julie & Julia DVD

Columbia Pictures
Starring: Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Chris Messina
Also Starring: Terry
Directed by: Nora Ephron

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Based on the true life stories of two independent women; Chef and author Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and blogger Julie Powell (Amy Adams).

Featured Feline: Julie owns a ginger tabby who is not named in the film. The cat first appears when Julie and her husband Eric (Chris Messina) are moving into their new apartment above a pizza parlor in Queens. Julie brings in a cat carrier (the cat’s paw can be seen sticking out) and opens the door. The cat jumps up onto the carrier and sits.

Julie and Julie - Julie Amy Adams with carrier and paw sticking out

Julie and Julie - Julie Amy Adams with carrier and ginger cat

The cat sits on the couch with Julie and Eric as they watch an old Julia Child cooking episode. The cat seems fascinated by what’s on the screen.

Julie and Julie - Julie Amy Adams and Eric Chris Messina on couch with Terry ginger cat

Later Julie carries a cooked chicken from the kitchen while the cat hungrily watches it pass.

Julie and Julie - Terry ginger cat eyeing cooked chicken walking by

The cat is present for Julie’s 30th birthday party.

Julie and Julie - Julie Amy Adams and Eric Chris Messina at birthday party with Terry ginger cat in background

The cat also gets very excited when Eric brings Julie the hoof of a calf for one recipe.

Julie and Julie - Julie Amy Adams and Eric Chris Messina with calf leg and Terry ginger cat

Julie and Julie - Julie Amy Adams and Eric Chris Messina with calf leg and Terry ginger cat coming closer

Julie falls asleep on the couch while waiting for a meal to cook. She sleeps through the alarm but the cat jumps up off the couch.

Julie and Julie - Julie Amy Adams sleeping on couch with Terry ginger cat

The cat sits in front of the stove as if sensing something is wrong.

Julie and Julie - Terry ginger cat standing in front of oven

Julie and Julie - Terry ginger cat sitting in front of oven

Julie comes running into the kitchen and the cat skidaddles.

Julie and Julie - Terry ginger cat in kitchen from above

In one scene Julie returns home and stops to pick up the cat.

Julie and Julie - Terry ginger cat approaches Julie Amy Adams

Julie and Julie - Terry ginger cat being picked up by Julie Amy Adams

Finally the cat is seen sitting beneath the telephone while answering machine messages play. The cat is watching Julie and Eric as they make love.

Julie and Julie - Terry ginger cat sitting up

According to director Nora Ephron during the DVD commentary the film was originally supposed to include two cats but one of the cats didn’t get out of the cat carrier in the first scene so Nora fired that second cat actor. The real Julie had three cats and a boa constrictor but Nora didn’t see how that would work out. “It’s hard enough working with one cat,” she explained. Regarding the final shot of the cat underneath the answering machine, Nora Ephron elaborated on her earlier statement by saying, “This is one of those shots that looks like nothing but it’s a complete nightmare. Trust me, you never want to put a cat in a movie. Even thought this one finally, on about the twenty-eighth take, did what we wanted her to do. Or maybe it was a him. I can’t remember.”

Julie and Julie - Terry ginger cat lying down

Actors Amy Adams and Chris Messina reminisced about working with the cat actor, whom they call Terry, in the Making Of … feature on the DVD. “I started working with Terry and I thought we had something,” Amy begins, “And then Terry started working with Chris and Chris sort of took over that relationship.” “It did come between us for a little bit,” Chris joked, “but . . . ” “We worked it out,” Amy adds, “When he’s on set, it’s all about Terry. ‘Quiet for the cat. Feed the cat.'” “And he also has this thing like he really likes it cold on the set, so we’ve been, like, freezing,” Chris adds, “But he’s a great actor and he studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute.” “He’s method,” Amy concludes.

Julie and Julie - Julie Amy Adams and Eric Chris Messina on couch with Terry ginger cat