Director Oliver Parker, who is fond of controversial fiddling with established stage classics (such as Shakespeare's Othello [1995] and Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband [1999]), takes a second stab at Wilde here. While retaining the playwright's savory wit, Parker's plot-tweaking attempts to break out of the drawing room are unfortunately distractingly blunt and obvious (tattooed buttocks and unwanted pregnancy flashbacks?). Still, a talented cast with keen comic timing helps assuage many of the movie's misfires. Colin Firth (Bridget Jones's Diary) is nebbish Jack Worthington and Rupert Everett is ne'er-do-well Algy Moncrieff, a pair of turn-of-the-19th-century English gentlemen who both pretend to be a fictional man named Earnest in order to secretly romance each other's pretty relatives (Reese Witherspoon and Frances O'Connor). Of course, nothing goes according to plan. The film also stars Judi Dench, who is wonderfully stuffy as O'Connor's resolutely disapproving upper-crust mother. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Oliver Park, a seven-minute making-of featurette, and a 15-minute behind-the-scenes montage. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a so-so adaptation of Wilde's stage classic.] (R. Blackwelder)
The Importance of Being Earnest
Miramax, 97 min., PG, VHS: $103.99, DVD: $29.95, Nov. 12 Volume 17, Issue 6
The Importance of Being Earnest
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