Based on the best selling book by Elizabeth Gilbert, the inspiring film, Eat Pray Love follows the author's gratifying, and often challenging, journey toward true, non-cliched enlightenment. After spending years in a somewhat passionless marriage, Gilbert (beautifully portrayed by Julia Roberts) suddenly comes to the realization that she has completely lost the zeal, hunger, and general appreciation that she once possessed for life. After a brief relationship with a flighty young actor (James Franco), the title character begins to realize that throughout most of her young and adult life, she has all too often defined herself by her relationships and used men as tools for self-fulfillment.

In her never-ceasing yearning for pure contentment, Elizabeth embarks on a one year journey, dividing her 12 months apart from the suffocating streets of New York City among Italy (eating), India (praying), and Indonesia (loving.) Rarely- if ever- has any cinematic storyline so cleverly and powerfully conveyed and evoked such a wide array of human emotions. It is simply enthralling to witness the protagonist's "appetite for life" and to watch her positive aura growing throughout the time that she spends experiencing, and finding raw pleasure in the scenery, food, and general deliciousness of other cultures.

Although a fraction of the daily meditation/ religious chanting that Ms. Gilbert practices during her stay in India seems to drone on endlessly, all in all it perfectly complements the overall message that Eat Pray Love brings to light. Perhaps the greatest closure that she received regarding the troubles and tribulations of her past take place in Indonesia. One particular standout line, in which Roberts’ character confidently declares to Javier Bardem's character, "I do not need to love you in order to convince me that I love myself," further illustrates the film's general premise that true happiness and contentment is internal and not contingent on external factors - a life lesson that we can all benefit from. This film has been rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexual references, and male rear nudity.