Synopsis: In Easy Virtue, a young Englishman brings home his new glamorous American Bride, throwing his family into a whirlwind.
Release Date: May 22, 2009 MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre(s): Comedy, Romance
Film Review
Production
Easy Virtue delivers a good amount of British humor and wit, while dealing with the collision of oppression and freedom in a changing world. Easy Virtue provides a wide variety of characters, all with very distinct personalities and desires, who play off of each other so well at times you may believe you are watching a real family having dinner or tea.
Acting
If you need one reason to see Easy Virtue, it is Kristin Scott Thomas’ performance as Mrs. Whittaker. As the stuffy English mother who must deal with her son’s shotgun wedding to a wild and modern American, she excels with her ability to appear charming and kind, while delivering lines that are laced with sarcasm and disdain.
The other lead female, Larita (Jessica Biel), has her moments where she performs very well but she comes across so stiff for the majority you never really enjoy the performance. At times, it is downright painful as she exaggerates her lines and facial expressions to the point where you want to close your eyes and cover your ears until someone else begins to speak or the scene cuts. Her only real moments of a decent performance in Easy Virtue are when she is on screen with Thomas as they do have a great chemistry together, as enemies.
Costumes
Taking place in the 1920s the costume design of Easy Virtue is full of pieces that are exceptional and others downright dowdy. Through the designs, a great deal is revealed about the characters and their personalities, or stations in life. From the modern and sexy wardrobe of Larita to the simplicity of Mrs. Whittaker you at once know the characters by the clothing presented on them.
Cast and Crew
- Director(s): Stephan Elliott
- Cast: Jessica Biel (Larita Whittaker), Ben Barnes (John Whittaker), Kristin Scott Thomas (Mrs. Whittaker), Colin Firth (Mr. Whittaker), Kimberly Nixon (Hilda Whittaker), Katherine Parkinson (Marion Whittaker), Kris Marshall (Furber), Charlotte Riley (Sarah Hurst)
- Editor(s): Sue Blainey
- Cinematographer: Martin Kenzie
- Production Designer(s): John Beard
- Country Of Origin: UK
