The Importance Of Being Earnest [DVD]

Would recommend

"Earnest" is very much a stage play, at its best performed by a good cast in a theatre and where the reaction of the audience to Wilde's scintillating dialogue is an important component of the entertainment. Inevitably that electricity generated by a live performance is lost in any adaptation for the screen. The celebrated (but now somewhat dated) 1952 film tried as much as possible to incorporate the play's theatrical character. Accomplished stage actors were employed who knew exactly how to pitch their performance (this is one case where the acting needs to be stylised, verging on but not quite crossing the line into outright ham!) Thus, although Edith Evans & Co. couldn't do complete justice to the original, the resulting film was a creditable and entertaining effort.Inevitably, this film, made half a century later, is going to be compared with its predecessor and it actually measures up quite well. Where it falls down slightly is in some rather contrived efforts to make the production more cinematic. Embellishments such as Algy being chased through the streets by debt collectors, two of the lovers getting tattoos, and a rather silly reference to Lady Bracknell's past, all seem incongruous and detract rather than add to the overall impact. These minor irritations apart, though, the film works well overall.Colin Firth and Rupert Everett are excellent as the two male leads and there is a wonderful cameo from Edward Fox playing Algy's butler. As you'd expect, Judi Dench is suitably commanding as Lady Bracknell, but the other principal females are just a bit disappointing. Frances O'Connor and Reece Wetherspoon are attractive enough as Gwendolen and Cecily but they don't bring that gloriously arch eccentricity that Joan Greenwood and Dorothy Tutin brought to the roles in the 1952 film. Nor is Anna Massey quite dotty enough in this portrayal of Miss Prism. But these are small details that don't stop this from being an enjoyable and entertaining film. However, if you do ever get the chance try and catch a performance of this play on stage. That is where it excels.

Wilde's fantastic play could have not asked for a better adaptation than this. The characters have a fantastic chemisty on screen and fit into their own personal roles wonderfully. Firth and Everett are the perfect orphan boy and playboy turned earnest. I don't image many will be unfamiliar with the plot but here's a quick summary:Firth plays Jack, who lives in the country and heads to the city under the name of Earnst. Everett plays Algernon who lives in the town but heads out to the country under the name of earnst. Why? Well, Jack is in love with Lady bracknell's daughter who dreams of marrying a man named earnest. Algernon inteneds to marry Jack's ward, Cecily, by going to Jack's house (while Jack is in town) posing as Jack's fictitious brother Earnst. (Jack say's to his country folk he's off to town to visit his brother earnst) Cecily also wants to marry a man named earnst. Confused yet...I am!!Annnyyyway, Jack comes back from town only to find Algernon flirting with Cecily and pretending to be jack's fake brother. Jack is astonished but doesn't blow his cover because Algie knows he's pretending his name is also earnst so he can marry Gwendoline Bracknell (algie's cousin). And so ensues a hilarious tale of thse two men attempting to explain who they really are and what they're up to to their adoring fiances.As is expected of Wilde, this story is full of quirky one liners;"Are your parents living?""My parents are both dead.""To lose one parent in unfortunate. To lose two could be considered careless."The cast are excellent so I honestly can't say who my favourite is. Jst know that this adaptation is first class and a bargain at the price being offered. Enjoy.

This play is just brilliant! A hilarious take off of the 19th century nouveau rich! Every time I read it I laugh out loud and the 2002 film adaption is superb! You must try it and see for yourself!

A very well presented version of Oscar Wilde's famous play. Both Colin Firth and Rupert Everett are excellent actors, bring out all of Oscar Wilde's endless humour. Judy Dench is up to her usual high and imposing standards.The only negative point I will make is the totally unnecessary and out of place, given the period of the play, is the two young women smoking all the time.On the whole a very enjoyable film, highly recommended.

See the play instead

A jolly romp with Oscar Wilde's incomparable lines, this screen version of The Importance Of Being Earnest manages to undercut all seriousness with its brilliant cast who bring out its complete strangeness and original tone. There is not a weak link in terms of casting, with everyone making their part completely their own. Rupert Everett and Colin Firth play off each other particularly brilliantly, but the two girls are hardly less good, while Judi Dench and Anna Massey in the older female roles are extraordinary. Each of these pairs seems to bring together contrasting physical and personality types. Judi Dench is riveting in every remark the character makes, and a lot of them are classics. The film doesn't quite find a visual language to match the writing, but it is an impossible task, and hence taking a star off would seem churlish. The director Oliver Parker has gone for something very English in look, and essentially allowed the actors to do their stuff with a minimum of trickery in the cinematography, although small openings-out - like Cecily's fantasy of Ernest approaching on horseback in shining armour - are added to at least give some sense that the medium is being tapped into wherever possible.

A very good performance but not the most exciting plot.