Moviola > Films > Easy Virtue

Easy Virtue (PG)   97 mins

"Let's Misbehave."

Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth head a great cast in this new version of Noel Coward's play.  John Whittaker (Ben Barnes), a young Englishman, falls madly in love with Larita (Jessica Biel), a sexy and glamorous American racing driver.  They marry impetuously, but when he brings her home to meet his upper crust parents, his mother (Scott Thomas) takes an instant loathing to her daughter-in-law.  Larita realises that she must fight back if she is to keep John, and a battle of wits ensues.  Mrs Whittaker seizes every opportunity to undermine Larita, who remains annoyingly calm.  In a grand finale, where the secrets of Larita's past are revealed, she finally makes a break for freedom from the suffocating house.

"The champagne wit of Noel Coward's eighty year old play still fizzes and sparkles in Stephan Elliott's jaunty adaptation of Easy Virtue. Handsome production values, a class-act cast and nimble direction from Elliott all combine to make the most of the material, transforming it into a surprisingly elegant, entertaining period piece."  Screen International

"The adaptation is witty and stylish, and there's a welcome dark undercurrent that offsets the more sugary moments. The film occasionally shows its stage origins, but this is still a small triumph for all involved, with Barnes and Firth giving standout performances."  Radio Times 
 

www.easyvirtuethemovie.co.uk

Last modified: 11-Aug-2009

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