In association with

The Importance Of Being Earnest [2002]
from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
starring Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Frances O'Connor (II), Reese Witherspoon, Judi Dench
directed by Oliver Parker

Features:

• PAL
• Widescreen

Editorial Review:

DVD Special Features:

• Audio commentary with Director Oliver Parker
  
• The making of The Importance of Being Earnest
  
• Behind the Scenes

DVD Technical Information:

• Closed captioned
  
• Running time: 90 minutes

The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedy masterpiece set during the Victorian era. The film concerns a pair of flamboyant bachelors called Algy (Rupert Everett) and Jack (Colin Firth) who secretly lead double lives. Using aliases and false alibis, the pair woo respectable ladies by day and cavort in music halls at night. Through countless blunders and haphazard tomfoolery, it is only a matter of time before they are caught out by their own lies. Sparkling dialogue, razor-sharp wit and electric performances make The Importance of Being Earnest unforgettably funny, whilst the grandiose sets and fabulous period costumes add romance and charm. Reese Witherspoon is radiant as Cecily, an alluring English rose, and Judi Dench puts in a fantastic performance as Lady Bracknell.

Audio Commentary with Director

The Making of Importance of Being Earnest

Behind the Scenes

In his second adaptation of an Oscar Wilde play, writer-director Oliver Parker (AN IDEAL HUSBAND) assembles a peerless cast to engage in this witty comedy of manners and mistaken identity. In 1890s London, rakish Algernon Montcrieff (Rupert Everett, who also starred in HUSBAND) runs into his friend, Jack Worthing (Colin Firth), who is in town to propose marriage to Algy's wildly romantic cousin, Gwendolen (Frances O'Connor). When returning a cigarette case to Jack, Algy reads the inscription, and discovers his friend has two secrets. Jack has created a devilish younger brother/alter ego called "Ernest" to hide his own misdeeds, and has a beautiful young ward named Cecily (Reese Witherspoon), whom he wants to keep clear of the roguish Algy. While Jack deals with the large obstacle standing between him and Gwendolen--namely, her mother, the imposing Lady Bracknell (a wonderfully imperious Judi Dench)--Algy devises a way to meet Cecily. The confusion and hilarity come to a peak when Algy arrives at Jack's country manor posing as Ernest in order to woo Cecily, and Gwendolen runs away to the country to be with Jack--whom she knows as Ernest. The stellar cast and Wilde's clever words make for genuine entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

• Very light-hearted and some laugh out loud moments.
  A nice change from the usual heaviness of period drama's, I really enjoyed this.
  Very light-hearted and some laugh out loud moments. Colin Firth and Rupert Everett work well together and form a funny double act.
  I was surprised that I actually liked Reece Witherspoon in this as I usually find her a bit irritating.
  Another great performance from Judi Dench, what period drama is complete without her!
  Definately worth a watch.

• Brilliant
  I was not looking forward to this when it arrived. But wow! What a brilliant, clever, funny movie it is. I have never seen the play in theatre, but as a film it works wonderfully.
  Reese Witherspoon is a revelation. I would defy anyone not to believe she is the quintessential English rose after watching this.
  Bit different, but brilliant.
  Rent it!

• An entertaining romp faithful to Wilde's play
  Merchant-Ivory-ish type period comedy starring Rupert Everett and Colin Firth as two young scoundrels who invent alter-egos to give them separate identities in London and the country.
  The Importance Of Being Earnest is faithful to Oscar Wilde's intricate comic play of class and etiquette. It features Judi Dench, Anna Massey and others doyens of British acting and is a whimsical, entertaining romp. Not a classic but well worth seeing.

• Excellent adaptation
  This is a brilliant, witty satire of the superficiality of Victorian society, presented with a great deal of irony and humour. I bought the film with some hesitation, wondering what Reese Witherspoon is doing in a film the essence of which is Englishness - but she is perfect for the role of Cecily. Her accent is faultless, her mannerisms immaculate, and I can't imagine anyone else playing her obsession with pre-Raphaelite daydreams and diary entries with so much grace and innocence. The Rupert Everett -... more info

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