The Importance Of Being Earnest Review

Jack Worthing, Colin Firth has invented an alter ego Ernest, played by himself, who kicks up his heels as a gay bachelor in the city while Jack maintains his sober country reputation. His great friend is Algernon, Rupert Everett, a wry and witty man-about-town who?s in a perennial state of impoverishment. Not that you?d know it by his lifestlye. Jack is in love with Gwendoline, Frances O?Connor, the daughter of Lady Bracknell, Judi Dench. Gwendoline feels her destiny is to be in love with a man called Ernest so his feelings are reciprocated. Meanwhile back on the farm Jack?s cousin Cecily, Reese Witherspoon, dreams of the mythical Ernest. When Algy turns up pretending to be Ernest things get complicated. The first act of The Importance of Being Earnest is so sharp and witty it?s a constant gurgle at Wilde?s cleverness. Once things move to the country and everyone falls in love it?s somehow less interesting, until Lady Bracknell arrives. Judi Dench is so wonderful in that role, she just eats it ? it?s a pleasure to see. Oliver Parker who also adapted Wilde?s An Ideal Husband to the screen has hit the mark with his casting. Where would a Wilde adaptation be without Rupert Everett ? that languid cheekiness fits perfectly. And the gels are terrific, both non-Anglos, Reese Witherspoon and Frances O?Connor. Wilde describes his play as ?a delicate bubble of fancy? and that?s what Parker achieves with the film.