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EASY VIRTUE

Released by 20th Century Fox / 16 March 2009 / Reviewed by Rob Monk

Featuring Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas

Loosely based on Noel Coward’s play of the same name, Stephen Elliot’s (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) entertainingly camp and witty script brings the roaring twenties up to date for a 21st Century rom-com audience. Providing directorial flourishes aplenty and aided by a terrific cast and beautiful set design; Easy Virtue is a light hearted and fun way to spend an hour and a half.

Focusing on the culture clash between American and British upper class values, the story concerns the marriage between young and inexperienced aristo John Whittaker (Ben Barnes) and glamorous, headstrong American racing driver Larita (Jessica Biel with a well judged performance). At the Whittaker’s large Cambridgeshire estate Larita’s independence and un-British way of going about things especially upsets John’s stuck up mother Veronica (a wonderfully acerbic Kristin Scott Thomas) but intrigues bored Dad (Colin Firth)…

The cast and filmmakers appear to have enjoyed themselves immensely in making this movie and that sense of fun translates onto the screen. Coward’s gentle mocking of aristocratic non-sense and sensibilities is handled well by Elliot and he has a fine time uncovering the contradictions and secrets of family life that lie at the heart of the play. The rapid fire dialogue is well crafted and the cast - especially Biel and Scott-Thomas - receive some cracking lines.

Although not a fully fledged musical, there are plenty of musical numbers in the film; including a couple of amusingly anachronistic versions of Sex Bomb and Car Wash delivered in clipped, terribly English tones. There are also some great comic scenes, not least one including the family’s beloved and unfortunate chihuahua…

The pace does slow up a little mid way but picks it up again for the engagingly silly closing scenes. Although always breezy, throwaway and fun, the strong performances and excellent writing takes the production over and above a merely diverting rom-com. Successful and intelligent, Easy Virtue is an international bright, young thing of a movie. Recommended.

Extras are good and include a ‘Making of’ Doco, an audio commentary, photo gallery, out takes and deleted scenes.

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