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Bookmark this pageMiss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)
Director: Bharat Nalluri
Movie review
From Time Out London
There’s an air of ‘The Sound of Music’ to this 1930s-set tale as frumpy, penniless English governess Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) enters a comically different world. Employed as social secretary for American actress Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams), her discomfort is immediately apparent.
Sheltered Miss Pettigrew is out of place in a world of Champagne-swilling, bed-hopping socialites partying merrily through the warning signs of war. But she has no choice but to roll up her sleeves and muck in, providing a welcome anchor for dizzy Delysia, whose principal problem is juggling the three different men she’s sleeping with: a young West End producer, Phil (Tom Payne), a nightclub owner, Nick (Mark Strong), and piano-playing ex-con Michael (Lee Pace).
It’s an instantly involving set-up for this adaptation of Winifred Watson’s novel. We follow Miss Pettigrew closely, sharing her fascination with Delysia’s glamorous lifestyle – and her embarrassment when she spills food on kindly fashion impresario Joe (Ciarán Hinds), the only person in this giddy social whirl who shares her memories of the First World War. Joe’s conversations with Miss Pettigrew are the film’s only serious, contemplative moments. Delysia’s dilemmas are simple: head v heart, romance v security.
This is a frothy confection, but it doesn’t only know its limitations, it revels in them. Coincidences play into Miss Pettigrew’s hands, driving the plot forward with a wink and a nod. Lee Pace is miscast as Delysia’s true love, but Adams is adorable as the wide-eyed would-be starlet, with McDormand spot-on as the sensible half of the odd couple. A delightfully frivolous screwball comedy.
Author: Anna Smith
Time Out London Issue 1982, August 14-20, 2008
User reviews of this film
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- Dirk said...
- Posted on Aug 23 2008 23:20 An incoherent and utterly unengaging film with charmless characters who you do not care about one jot. The pathetic attempts at social realism (soup kirchens and pending war) were trite rather than meaningful.
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- millicent said...
- Posted on Aug 23 2008 23:13 A charming and delicate novel poorly adapted for the screen - all the charm and wry social observation removed and replaced by cliche after cliche in a plodding clunky overly theatrical and abyssmally directed film.
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- Madison said...
- Posted on Aug 23 2008 15:51 Romantic and georgeous to look at....spot on performances that just stop short of characature..a perfect sunday afternoon film.
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- Madison said...
- Posted on Aug 23 2008 15:51 Romantic and georgeous to look at....spot on performances that just stop short of characature..a perfect sunday afternoon film.
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- culchavulcha said...
- Posted on Aug 19 2008 16:38 thoroughly enjoyable feelgood film. one for the ladies. Frances McDormand especially good in her role.
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- Sutton said...
- Posted on Aug 19 2008 13:48 A surprisingly good review from the TO reviewer and the other reviews so far, given the content. The film is 'frothy' and without wanting to sound sexist, a 'chick flick'. I found the film incredibly tedious, but I guess I'm not the target market. The male leads were poor, their accents all over the shop, apart from the excellent Mark Strong, Frances McDormand was good and Amy Evans stunning to look at, shame the content was poor. A popcorn film for the girls.
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- silvier said...
- Posted on Aug 19 2008 10:16 it was wickid
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- lisa said... said...
- Posted on Aug 19 2008 10:11 this film rocks and it the best
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- amyfan said...
- Posted on Aug 15 2008 15:35 very funny and oddly uplifting
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- she who must be obeyed said...
- Posted on May 06 2008 18:47 A delightful fluffy comedy
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Cast & crew
Director: Bharat Nalluri
Cast: Ciarán Hinds, Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Lee Pace, Tom Payne, Mark Strong, Shirley Henderson full cast
Rated: PG
Duration: 92 mins
UK Release: Aug 15 2008
US Release: Mar 7 2008
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