Description: Starring Reese Witherspoon (LEGALLY BLONDE), Colin Firth (BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY), and Rupert Everett (MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING), here is the hilarious adventure of two dashing young bachelors and the outrageous deceptions they find themselves in over love! Whenever Worthing (Firth) wants to leave his dull country life behind, he makes visits to the city posing as his fictitious "brother" Ernest. There, he becomes smitten with the ravishing Gwendolen (Frances O'Connor, A.I.). But when Worthing is in town, his playboy pal Algy (Everett) is in the country and falling for Worthing's young and beautiful ward, Cecily (Witherspoon) -- while also impersonating Ernest! Pandemonium ensues when these two would-be Ernests find themselves face-to-face and in the predicament of explaining who they really are!
Amazon.com: Splendidly adapted from the wittiest play in the English language, The Importance of Being Earnest stars Colin Firth as an English gentleman who pretends to be his own brother, named Ernest, so he can enjoy himself in the city without besmirching his reputation at his country estate. Unfortunately, he's just fallen in love with a young woman (Frances O'Connor) who insists that she can only marry a man named Ernest--and when Firth's best friend (Rupert Everett) goes to Firth's country estate pretending to be this same brother Ernest, he falls in love with Firth's ward (Reese Witherspoon), who similarly feels that Ernest is the perfect name for a husband... The absurdity of the plot is matched by the exquisite cleverness of the dialogue, and the performances--particularly Dame Judi Dench as Everett's fearsome aunt--are excellent. --Bret Fetzer
Great performances! Before watching this movie, I loved Colin Firth... after this movie I absolutely ADORE Colin! The exact same thing happens with Rupert Everett. Really really funny! a must-see for all ages. Clever plot. I'm dying to find the soundtrack.... if anyone knows where please share the info!
"I can hardly eat muffins in an agitated manner!" This is not a period drama for people looking for deep, thwarted passions; The Importance of Being Earnest is pure fantasy with its rich, lovable and completely irresponsible heroes & heroines making a tangled mess of their lives & love affairs. But Oscar Wilde makes frivolousness more charming and substantial than anyone else ever has, and he has no better living disciple than Rupertt Everett.
Everett perfectly captures the sly, self-indulgent charm that makes Wilde's story such escapist fun and the rest of the cast catches his infectious appeal. Reese Witherspoon and Frances O'Connor strike the perfect balance between romantic naivete and haughiness. Colin Firth, as Everett's ostensibly more responsible friend, plays off him perfectly. And as always, Dame Judi Dench commands every scene she's in.
This movie is a romp, pure and simple. With some of the most absurd situations and ridiculous dialogue imaginable, it still catches the fancy and paints a bright pastel world that would be so much fun to visit.
Heart's traps After several very good and elucidatory reviews, I will humbly add up that I liked the film due to its rich production, watching Colin Firth acting once more, Reese Witherspoon's gracious British accent and of course the scenery! From Oscal Wilde, I had only read "The Picture of Dorian Gray". I enjoyed the comic side of this important writer, even though I saw it through the film only. Now, I am curious and intend to buy the book to read the original play!
Hilarious Fun This video arrived in mint condition and far sooner than I had expected.
As far as the story goes - it is simply very funny and very well acted. Colin Firth and the rest of the cast are the best!
There are nuances that one would miss on the first viewing of this film. On a second and third viewing, I am still finding more things to laugh at. For instance, after Jack and Algy have sung their song, Jack accidentally plucks one note on the guitar, and Algy promptly elbows him.
It is a farce, among farces - don't miss seeing it.
Oscar Wilde Classic put to film. Great movie! Adds nice back story that you would not find in the book. Very entertaining.
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