I had heard much of this film (and play) but had not seen it until a few weeks ago. Then, in the posh living room of a certain house in a certain corner of North Carolina, at a certain party for a certain bride, Sarah and I (along with a bunch of other gals) watched
The Importance of Being Earnest.
My first thought upon watching it was: "Wow...that was very different than I expected!"
You see, I had assumed that it was a period drama.
Wrong. It's a period comedy. There's a difference. I mean, period drama means Colin Firth proposing to Elizabeth Bennet and melting hearts with a timely smile. Period
comedy means Colin Firth serenading a woman by singing with a ukelele and a high-pitched voice. I mean honestly? Colin Firth is a
tenor? Oy.
But once I wrapped my head around this paradigm-shift, I was able to appreciate just how witty and brilliant the film was.
Plot:
The plot revolves around two young men in England: The shiftless Algernon Moncrieff (Rupert Everett), and the responsible-ish Jack Worthing. (Colin Firth) The two men are both tired of their individual lives, and both (unbeknowst to the other) decide to make up a second identity for themselves. Jack pretends to have a wayward brother named Ernest, and when he goes to London, poses as this brother. It is under this identity that Jack falls in love with the beautiful heiress, Gwendolyn Bracknell. (Frances O'Connor) It seems his deceptions will run smoothly enough.
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| Gwendolyn and Jack. |
But simultaneously, Algernon decides he wants to meet Jack's ward, Cecily (Reese Witherspoon) and so runs off to Jack's country estate, posing as this self-same brother, Ernest.
Not too terrible, right?
Well, it works only if both Ernest Worthings stay a distance apart from each other, and never meet. But both Jack and Algy (Or Ernest and Ernest as Gwen and Cecily see them :P) end up at the same country house. Things just go from bad to worse as this muddle of identities begins to tell upon the individual, blossoming romances of Jack and Algy. Will it all turn right? You'll see. :D
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| Happy couples? |
Characters:
I confess to falling in love with the sheer complimentary-ness of the characters in relation to each other. Jack and Algy each would have been nothing without the ability of playing one off the other, but together the two make for an unforgettable duo. Not to mention the fact that Lady Bracknell (played by Dame Judi Dench) was the architypical British matriarch and thwarted destiny admirably. ;)
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| Cecily and Algernon |
Pros:
You will be hard-pressed to find a movie with more humorous dialog, sharper wit, or a jollier cast. This movie is most definitely laughable, and most definitely destined to become a favorite. It is probably the most quotable movie I've seen come down the pike since
Cranford. It was an insufferable task trying to select only a few to share with you below! :D
Having a real family is an important part of the plot. It is one of the main themes along which Jack Worthing dreams--who is he? Who were his parents? What became of them?
Cons:
The whole plot of this story revolves around deceit. Who can pretend to be whom so that they can win the woman they love and live a life of excitement. Although the truth comes out (pretty nearly) in the end, the posturing and pretending is more winked at than condemned.
For some very
very odd reason, the director thought it would be hilarious to show Gwendolyn getting a tattoo of Ernest's name on her rear. During the process you see only a slightly pained expression on Gwendolyn's face. Later on, however, Gwendolyn's mind flashes back to the moment and you see the tattoo. Yeah. Just close your eyes when you see it coming. I don't even know why they put that in there.
Rating:
3 out of 5 stars. I deducted one star from the four-star rating (Five stars is stunning, four is awesome, and three is good.) because of the two cons. But this movie is definitely worth watching. With those two things in mind, you are good to go and do enjoy this funny, heart-warming film!
Quoteables:
Algy: Do you mean you couldn't love me if I had a different name? Cecily: But what name? Algy: Well... Algy, for instance. Cecily: I might respect you, Earnest, I might admire your character, but I feel that I could never give you my undivided attention.
Jack: Lady Bracknell, I hate to seem inquisitive, but would you kindly inform me who I am?
Algy: But why does your aunt call you her uncle? [Reading cigarette case] Algy: "From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack." There is no objection, I admit, to an aunt being a small aunt, but why an aunt, no matter what her size may be, should call her own nephew her uncle, I can't quite make out.
Jack: How you can sit there eating muffins when we're in this terrible trouble, I can't make out! It seems to me to be perfectly heartless... Algy: I can hardly eat muffins in an agitated manner. The butter would probably get on my cuffs.
Lady Bracknell: You seem to be displaying signs of triviality. Jack: On the contrary, Aunt Augusta. I've now realized for the first time in my life the vital importance of being Ernest.
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