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squishyhippo

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Frances McDormand brings life to this otherwise simple and overindulgent film. She plays a Highly Moral and desperately out of work Governess who accidentally wanders into the apartment of a Cabaret singer on the eve of World War Two.
Her...
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Frances McDormand brings life to this otherwise simple and overindulgent film. She plays a Highly Moral and desperately out of work Governess who accidentally wanders into the apartment of a Cabaret singer on the eve of World War Two.
Her sensibilities are immediately put to the test when she meets Delysia (played by Adams) who is juggling three men for different reasons.
While McDormand brings stability to the film, Adams brings the sugary sweet coating which starts to rot your teeth after the first forty minutes of the film. I have not read the book, but I would hope that it gives more substance to Delysia than is displayed in this film. I may be biased as I am tired of women being portrayed as flooseys and although Amy Adams is a fine enough actor, the direction the character was taken in for most of the film was not impressive. The cabaret scene where Adams sings is the best scene in the film.
Lee Pace played the very endearing genuine Love interest of Delysia and Ciaran Hinds a very gentlemanly interest for Guinevere. The film seems like it would be better off as a Pantomime that a feature length film. I think that if the story had been set over a longer period of time I would have considered the relationship between the women more plausible.
I would recommend this film if you are after something light with lots of bright lights and flashy costumes, but not if you are after something substantial.

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Posted jun 19, 2008 10:24 pm pt

sonicboom713

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Miss Pettigrew Will Leave You Smiling By Patrick Hickey Jr.

It is a rarity nowadays for a film to leave you smiling throughout. A forgotten gem it seems is the act of “classy� comedy, something actors such as Dean...
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Miss Pettigrew Will Leave You Smiling By Patrick Hickey Jr.

It is a rarity nowadays for a film to leave you smiling throughout. A forgotten gem it seems is the act of “classy� comedy, something actors such as Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra made a career out of in what seems like hundreds of years ago. However, “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day,� directed by Bharat Nalluri [“The Crow: Salvation,� “Downtime�] is a film that would have fit in easily amongst the classic romance comedies of yesterday and is an equally as charming and fun endeavor today. However, it is on the weight of great performances by Frances McDormand and Amy Adams, that this film is a truly enjoyable one that will make you chuckle as much is it will pull at your heartstrings.

Playing the part of an out of work London governess before World War II, McDormand [“Almost Famous,� “Fargo�] takes her life, which has been quite conventional and boring to this point, into her own hands, eventually crossing paths with the charismatic, yet air-headed Adams [“Enchanted,� “Sunshine Cleaning�], who together make their dreams come true in one remarkable day.

It’s hard to imagine McDormand and Adams having such poignant on-screen chemistry, but after a few minutes of them interacting with one another on screen, it’s obvious. McDormand’s experience, well-roundedness and wit, combined with Adams’ charisma and good looks and you have a combination that is seemingly meant to be on screen together. Add in more than solid supporting roles by Ciaran Hands, Lee Pace, Tom Payne and Shirley Henderson and you have a deep cast of characters telling a great story.

Of all the characters though, it is Adams that truly steals the show. Much like her role in “Enchanted,� Adams plays an air-headed, idealistic beauty that is focused on making her dreams come true, her way. After this film, it’s obvious that Adams has this type of role nailed and is capable of playing much bigger roles. The question remains however if that will be the case. Nonetheless, simply having that question proposed shows just how solid she was in this feature.

Adding to list of things making this film a memorable one is the cinematography. Never for a second do you think that you are anywhere but 1940s London. As a matter of fact, after the film is over, you may have to take a few seconds to realize where you are. Every scene seems to be bursting with color that brings the best out of all the characters and places they go. Everywhere from the train station and the soup kitchen to the beautiful London flat where a majority of the film takes place is drenched in class, style and charm. Like a cherry on top of a fudge sundae, the look and feel of “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day� makes it that more fun to watch.

When it’s all said and done, this film is a sleeper hit that will remind older movie-goers of better days. Times when beautiful actresses didn’t have to shed their clothes to be popular and when it was natural for a star of a film to sing a little bit. Despite that, many real movie buffs will love the interaction between the characters and a endearing story that will leave a smile on their face for the rest of the day.

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Posted apr 3, 2008 2:10 am pt

• [+] San Francisco Chronicle
  
  100
  Frothy and exuberantly entertaining - in part because of the sexual innuendoes - it's the best romantic comedy so far this year.

  by Ruthe Stein | Read Full Review »
• [+] ReelViews
  
  88
  Adams shines brightly, reinforcing the image she projected in Junebug and enhanced in Enchanted and Charlie Wilson's War. At this time of the year, it's tough to find a more diverting way to spend 90 minutes in a multiplex.

  by James Berardinelli | Read Full Review »
• [+] Christian Science Monitor
  
  83
  Based on the 1938 novel by Winifred Watson, it's a deluxe romance that most of the time plays like farce.

  by Peter Rainer | Read Full Review »
• [+] Baltimore Sun
  
  83
  It's an unusual and engaging romantic comedy because it's mostly about how these women ready each other for real love.

  by Michael Sragow | Read Full Review »
• [+] Salon.com
  
  80
  Watching McDormand navigate that transformation is the kind of thing that can keep your hope in movies, and in actors, alive.

  by Stephanie Zacharek | Read Full Review »
• [+] The Hollywood Reporter
  
  80
  Sustains itself through terrific forward momentum and two glorious star turns by gifted actresses Frances McDormand and Amy Adams.

  by Kirk Honeycutt | Read Full Review »
• [+] Chicago Tribune
  
  75
  Style is a tricky, elusive thing, and this film doesn't so much have it as strive for it, constantly. But something in Watson's story endures: The wish-fulfillment truly satisfies. And with the war clouds gathering by story's end, the fairy tale acquires a bittersweet edge, nicely cutting all that whipped cream.

  by Michael Phillips | Read Full Review »
• [+] TV Guide
  
  75
  Looks and sounds great, and is at its best when it isn't trying too hard to have fun.

  by Ken Fox | Read Full Review »
• [+] USA Today
  
  75
  A good farce is hard to find. Particularly one that holds up for the entirety of the story and keeps us engrossed, while smiling. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is a particularly effective and cheeky example.

  by Claudia Puig | Read Full Review »
• [+] Miami Herald
  
  75
  The only thing missing from this winsome, madcap throwback set in London on the eve of World War II is an actual Brit in the title role.

  by Connie Ogle | Read Full Review »
• [+] Philadelphia Inquirer
  
  75
  A jubilee for McDormand and jolly good fun for most everyone else.

  by Carrie Rickey | Read Full Review »
• [+] Film Threat
  
  70
  Plays like a breeze and ends before we know it. In the current state of cinema, all we can hope for is one like this per year.

  by Matthew Sorrento | Read Full Review »
• [+] Los Angeles Times
  
  70
  Bharat Nalluri directs with a light touch and a great eye for costumes and sets, which are gorgeous enough to make up for any contrivances in the plot. It's pure romantic fantasy, and you won't believe it for a minute. But it's fun to watch Miss Pettigrew and Miss Lafosse live for a couple of hours.

  by Carina Chocano | Read Full Review »
• [+] Washington Post
  
  70
  The film's flaws are nothing compared with the pleasures it offers, chiefly in its unapologetic pursuit of old-fashioned sweetness and romance.

  by Ann Hornaday | Read Full Review »
• [+] The New York Times
  
  70
  How light is this movie? So buoyant that even an air raid warning, signaling that this whole world is about to crumble under the blitz, can't dampen its giddy spirits.

  by Stephen Holden | Read Full Review »