The Importance of Being Ernest (2002)
In true Oscar Wilde form, every scene and nearly every line of The Importance of Being Earnest is full of wit and carefully planned humor. “All women become like their mothers; that is their tragedy. No man does; that is theirs.” That famous quote stems from this play, did you know? There are too many hilarious lines to quote, but if you like Wilde’s style of unrealistic, yet completely hilarious quips that people can’t get away with in real life, you’ll love this comedy of errors.
Colin Firth stars as a proper gentleman with a dual identity: in his country house, he’s the respectable Jack, and in London, he’s his wild younger brother, Ernest. As Ernest, he’s fallen in love with Frances O’Connor, a lady with a wild streak in her as well. Frances confesses she’s always wanted to fall in love with a man named Ernest, and Colin panics as to her reaction when she finds out his real identity. Rupert Everett is Colin’s pal, and Frances’s cousin. He’s as scoundrelly as any classic Oscar Wilde character, with a joke flowing forth every time he opens his mouth. Interested in meeting Colin’s innocent ward, Reese Witherspoon, he sneaks off to the country and pretends to be the nonexistent brother Ernest.
Meanwhile, Frances’s stern mother, Judi Dench, refuses to give her consent to the marriage unless Colin proves his genteel lineage. With too many Ernests running around, and too many women who demand their sweetheart be named Ernest, it’s bound to get complicated. Check out this well-timed flick if it’s been a while since you’ve seen Colin Firth in a comedy. He’s famous for his dramas, but he’s just hilarious when he lets his hair down.
More Judi Dench movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1964's The Importance of Being Earnest here!
Colin Firth stars as a proper gentleman with a dual identity: in his country house, he’s the respectable Jack, and in London, he’s his wild younger brother, Ernest. As Ernest, he’s fallen in love with Frances O’Connor, a lady with a wild streak in her as well. Frances confesses she’s always wanted to fall in love with a man named Ernest, and Colin panics as to her reaction when she finds out his real identity. Rupert Everett is Colin’s pal, and Frances’s cousin. He’s as scoundrelly as any classic Oscar Wilde character, with a joke flowing forth every time he opens his mouth. Interested in meeting Colin’s innocent ward, Reese Witherspoon, he sneaks off to the country and pretends to be the nonexistent brother Ernest.
Meanwhile, Frances’s stern mother, Judi Dench, refuses to give her consent to the marriage unless Colin proves his genteel lineage. With too many Ernests running around, and too many women who demand their sweetheart be named Ernest, it’s bound to get complicated. Check out this well-timed flick if it’s been a while since you’ve seen Colin Firth in a comedy. He’s famous for his dramas, but he’s just hilarious when he lets his hair down.
More Judi Dench movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1964's The Importance of Being Earnest here!