- Actors: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Frances O'Connor (II), Reese Witherspoon, Judi Dench
- Directors: Oliver Parker
- Language English
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
- VHS Release Date: 21 July 2003
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000063W2K
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,863 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Video Description
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.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Wilde's fantastic play could have not asked for a better adaptation than this. The characters have a fantastic chemisty on screen and fit into their own personal roles wonderfully. Firth and Everett are the perfect orphan boy and playboy turned earnest. I don't image many will be unfamiliar with the plot but here's a quick summary:
Firth plays Jack, who lives in the country and heads to the city under the name of Earnst. Everett plays Algernon who lives in the town but heads out to the country under the name of earnst. Why? Well, Jack is in love with Lady bracknell's daughter who dreams of marrying a man named earnest. Algernon inteneds to marry Jack's ward, Cecily, by going to Jack's house (while Jack is in town) posing as Jack's fictitious brother Earnst. (Jack say's to his country folk he's off to town to visit his brother earnst) Cecily also wants to marry a man named earnst. Confused yet...I am!!
Annnyyyway, Jack comes back from town only to find Algernon flirting with Cecily and pretending to be jack's fake brother. Jack is astonished but doesn't blow his cover because Algie knows he's pretending his name is also earnst so he can marry Gwendoline Bracknell (algie's cousin). And so ensues a hilarious tale of thse two men attempting to explain who they really are and what they're up to to their adoring fiances.
As is expected of Wilde, this story is full of quirky one liners;
"Are your parents living?"
"My parents are both dead."
"To lose one parent in unfortunate. To lose two could be considered careless."
The cast are excellent so I honestly can't say who my favourite is. Jst know that this adaptation is first class and a bargain at the price being offered. Enjoy.
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This updated version of an old classic tries too hard to better Wilde's own impeccable script by trying to appeal to more modern tastes. Its modifications, such as Gwendolyn's car & tattoo, Algie's jazz playing and running from the law, give the whole story a less credible air. It's not so much that the film has been updated, more mixed-dated, and the laughs seem cheap; too much has been taken from the imagination and dialogue through the excesses on screen.
However, although Colin Firth and Rupert Everett may seem too old, they feasibly carry off their roles. Dame Judy has the unenviable task of delivering lines immortalised by Dame Edith Evans; her reinterpretation is creative and appropriate, although the playful smile at the corner of her mouth somewhat reduced her traditional authority.
The film was enjoyable, but it's earnestly flippant direction prevented it from being the hillarious comedy of manners of Wildes' original play
However, although Colin Firth and Rupert Everett may seem too old, they feasibly carry off their roles. Dame Judy has the unenviable task of delivering lines immortalised by Dame Edith Evans; her reinterpretation is creative and appropriate, although the playful smile at the corner of her mouth somewhat reduced her traditional authority.
The film was enjoyable, but it's earnestly flippant direction prevented it from being the hillarious comedy of manners of Wildes' original play
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I've already discovered that people don't vote on reviews because of their content but on whether or not they tally with their own views so I will expect to see 'not helpful' votes pile up but here goes anyway.
If you're looking for a mildly entertaining bit of froth with generally good actors you will probably enjoy this. What you will NOT see is Oscar Wilde's 'Ernest'. Nowhere that I can see does it say that this is heavily adapted from the play but it is, there are too many changes to the script to quote them all but, to site the worst aberation, the fact that Jack is referred to as Algenon's YOUNGER (not older as Willde wrote it) brother towards the end makes the whole premise of the plot nonsense. OK, Algie's played as a bit of an ibecile but surely he would have known he once had a brother around the house so why should it come as such a surprise?
If you want to see a somewhat dated but beautifully played version of the original get the old Redgrave/Dennison/Evans DVD. I bought this as a Judi Dench completist (sic) and funny as her performance undoubtedly is, Edith Evans simply IS Lady Bracknell.
If you're looking for a mildly entertaining bit of froth with generally good actors you will probably enjoy this. What you will NOT see is Oscar Wilde's 'Ernest'. Nowhere that I can see does it say that this is heavily adapted from the play but it is, there are too many changes to the script to quote them all but, to site the worst aberation, the fact that Jack is referred to as Algenon's YOUNGER (not older as Willde wrote it) brother towards the end makes the whole premise of the plot nonsense. OK, Algie's played as a bit of an ibecile but surely he would have known he once had a brother around the house so why should it come as such a surprise?
If you want to see a somewhat dated but beautifully played version of the original get the old Redgrave/Dennison/Evans DVD. I bought this as a Judi Dench completist (sic) and funny as her performance undoubtedly is, Edith Evans simply IS Lady Bracknell.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
"Is this Miss Prism a female of repellent aspect remotely connected...
This adaptation of 'Earnest' is light, frothy fun; beautifully costumed; and generally well-acted. Judi Dench is well-cast as Lady Bracknell, giving an equally chilly (though... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Seren Ade
Get the 52 version instead of this disappointment
Firth and Everett are too old to play the young men about town that Wilde portrayed. Reece Witherspoon is a hideous choice for Cicily, far too knowing and modern. Read more
Published 7 months ago by F. Lewis
Pure, wonderful nonsence
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this film with its great sense of humour and bizarre story line which leads to incredibly daft situations. Read more
Published 13 months ago by William B
A great adaptation
I recently revisited this old favorite and could not resist adding my voice to how funny and entertaining it is. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Uenna
An Important Earnest dvd
This classical Oscar Wilde little number is absolutely entertaining watch with a great cast, the sort of thing to watch afternoon tea to on a Sunday.
Published 21 months ago by P. J. Horning
Disappointing
In Victorian England, two young ladies are convinced they can only fall in love with men named "Earnest," so wealthy Jack (Colin Firth) and his scoundrel friend Algernon (Rupert... Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2009 by Kona
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. Read more
Very light-hearted and some laugh out loud moments. Read more
Published on 17 April 2007 by Rhi Wheeler
Brilliant
I was not looking forward to this when it arrived. But wow! What a brilliant, clever, funny movie it is. Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2006 by Dodster
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... Read more
Published on 31 July 2006 by Greg Farefield-Rose
Excellent adaptation
This is a brilliant, witty satire of the superficiality of Victorian society, presented with a great deal of irony and humour. Read more
Published on 5 July 2006 by Catfish
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