A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Date Viewed: 3/13/08

Details:

Amy Adams (Delysia Lafosse)

Frances McDormand (Miss Pettigrew)

Shirley Henderson (Edythe Dubarry)

Ciarán Hinds (Joe)

Lee Pace (Michael)

Tom Payne (Phil Goldman)

Mark Strong (Nick)

Director: Bharat Nalluri

Score: 1/2

The Review: Much of the character of a Shakespearian comedy, a comedy of manners or relationships with a shade of farce about it. Predictable plot, but the well-cast and interesting performances will distract you from the tried and true.

From the slim, classic 1938 novel by Winifred Watson. In the movie version, Miss Pettigrew (McDormand) is a fractious, perhaps idiosyncratic nanny who's had one too many disagreements with clients, and is about to get the boot from the agency for which she works. It's just before WW-II in darkest London (literally), and a minor depression rules the scene; certainly soup kitchens and bread lines pass by in review. Falling on hard times or being out of a job may not be a unusual, but it's not her choice. Through a bit of deception, she ends up at the door of a ditzy blonde show-girl (Adams) whose "little boy" is a bit of a handful, and in getting rid of him, the two women bond. The day is off to a good start.

A bit of romance, some snippets of humor, rare examples of wit -- Oscar Wilde, this is not, but it is diverting. By the time it finishes, you will be slightly surprised that only about 24 hours of plot time has elapsed. And perhaps a bit disappointed that Joe & Miss Pettigrew don't sail off into the sunset quite the way Delysia & Nick do.

Amy Adams needs to be careful she is not typecast as the ditz too many more times -- it might stick!

(26-Mar-08)

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