Easy Virtue
Cast: Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Barnes
Dir: Stephan Elliott
Rating: 4/5
This is the second time that Noel Coward's play Easy Virtue has made it to the big screen after legendary director Alfred Hitchock helmed a silent adaptation of this social comedy in 1927. However the strong part of Coward's play is it's witty dialogue and seemed unsuited to the silent genre of film but director Stephan Elliott doesn't make the same mistake.
John Whittaker, a young Englishman, falls madly in love with widow Larita, a sexy and glamorous American woman who racers cars, and they marry on the spur of the moment. However when the couple returns to the family home, his mother Mrs Whittaker has an instant allergic reaction to her new daughter-in-law, she had hoped John would marry childhood friend and neighbour Sarah to unite the two houses.
Larita tries her best to fit in but fails to tiptoe through the minefield laid by her mother-in-law. Larita quickly realizes Mrs Whittaker’s game and sees that she must fight back if she’s not going to lose John. A battle of wits ensues as Larita is made to feel more of an outsider by Mrs Whittaker who is keen for her son to remain in the family home and take up his responsibility of looking after his family.
She does however find a warm welcome from John's father who, like Larita is an outsider in his own family still haunted by what he saw during the war and his failure to bring his soldiers home. But John and Larita's wedding bliss is short lived as the secrets of her past are exposed and she makes a bid for freedom.
Despite it's lukewarm reception from the critics at London Film Festival recently Easy Virtue was however a major hit with the festival's audiences and I must admit that I side with them this is a great film with a fabulous cast and is a lot of laughs that breathe fresh air into this rather dull genre of film.
Jessica Biel really is the surprise as she takes on the role of Larita producing her best performance of her career so far and seems comfortable with comedy delivering her witty one liners with ease, plus she looks fabulous in her 1920's costumes.
It's good to see a change of pace for newbie Ben Barnes after his exploits of the summer in Prince Caspian, a role he is set to reprise, as the innocent John Whittaker who is naive in both life and love and finds himself torn between the love for his wife and the sense of duty that he has for his family and it's great to see an new side to this young actor as he provides strong support.
But the really classy performances come from Kristen Scott Thomas as the family matriarch and possessive mother keen to control every aspect of her three children' life and is horrified at John's choice of wife. Her over the top reaction to the situation and her constant put downs really will strike a cord with many who do have a mother in law from hell, her performance is nothing short of brilliant.
Colin Firth is also excellent as Mr Whittaker who is truly troubled by his experience of war and hides his pain behind his humour but he give Larita a warm welcome and at last finds an ally in his house against his wife. As well as bringing perfect comic timing to the role he also brings real sensitivity as he tells Larita that he is the only man his age in their village and he couldn't save his men.
But just check out Kris Marshall as the butler who steals every scene that he is in with this hilarious observations.
OK so it's no Gosford Park but then in never tries to be as, on the whole, Elliott gives a faithful adaptation of Coward's play and is a brilliant observation of the class system throw in some acid one liners it's wit on a grand scale that has a lightness often missing in the costume drama so kick back and enjoy.
Easy Virtue is out on DVD now.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw