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| LFF: Easy Virtue |
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| Written by Ivan Radford |
| Tuesday, 28 October 2008 00:00 |
 “There’s something about you wild child, that’s so contagious, let’s be outrageous, let’s misbehave!” Boy meets girl. Girl meets family. Hilarity ensues. Sound predictable? Not so, for this is the world of Noel Coward, where class is relative and wit isn’t afraid to bite. Straight into the jaws go newlyweds John (Ben Barnes) and Larita (Jessica Biel). The two meet in sepia-toned France, the racecar driving American blowing the young lad away. And understandably so – Jessica is jaw-dropping as Larita, sassy sexy and sympathetic in one fell swoop. Naturally, the Whittakers don’t feel the same. “Oh, you’re American...” drawls the icy matriarch (Kristin Scott Thomas) with disdain, staunchly disapproving of her son’s partner. The others all follow suit, taking a strong dislike to this improper, ghastly girl of uncouth manners. All, that is, save for Mr. Whittaker (Colin Firth). A veteran who spent years abroad philandering after escaping the bloodshed, he eventually wanders back to the family home in a distant haze of unhappiness – Mr. Darcy he is not. From Queen Priscilla’s desert to the manor born, writer-director Stephan Elliot adapts Coward’s play with verve and class. Liberally taking the text and throwing in a couple of touches (a dead dog here, a motorbike there), Elliot’s treatment is effervescent, bubbling with energy and sparks. With the dial set firmly to ham, Scott Thomas is delightfully withering as the lady of the house; she even out-Maggies Maggie Smith (a near impossible feat). In the background, too, Kris Marshall lords it up as a stoic butler (“have you been drinking, Furber?” “Yes, ma’am. Prodigiously”) and the young couple ooze authenticity. With glamorous dresses, gorgeous cars and a fabulous soundtrack – including the cast crooning out modern music re-worked in the 20s style – Easy Virtue is droll English entertainment of the truly old school variety. Forget Pride and Prejudice, this is costume drama where you can really kick your shoes off. A pleasant change from today’s comedy, it fits the cinema screen like a glove. De-lovely. |
