The Importance of Being Earnest
2002, in cinemas now 
Colin Firth
Rupert Everett
Reese Witherspoon
Judi Dench
Tom Wilkinson

The film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's most famous play, The Importance of Being Earnest is a huge laugh riot from beginning to end. And not only that, you ladies out there who find Colin Firth utterly to die for (like me), will seriously enjoy seeing him dressed like a gift waiting to be unwrapped, and expressing a bit of sexual frustration.

Jack (Firth) is a bit bored with his life always being stuck in the country. He's made up a non-existent brother, Earnest, a ne'er-do-well in London whom he simply must visit as often as possible to rescue from his financial follies. When in London, Jack has always taken on the identity of Earnest and enjoys anonymity and the pleasure it can bring, like walking out on the restaurant bill at the Savoy.

Jack/Earnest's best buddy in the city is Algernon (Everett), a high society man who is perpetually broke. Algie has always used a non-existent extremely ill friend called "Bunbury" as an excuse to leave town and avoid his tedious aunt, the painfully stern Lady Bracknell (Dench).

Jack is in love with Lady Bracknell's daughter, Gwendolyn, and very much wants to propose to her. The only problem is, Gwendolyn thinks her man's name really is Earnest--not a good way to start off a marriage. That's actually NOT the only problem. Lady Bracknell is absolutely against the idea of a wedding when Jack/Earnest admits he's really an orphan, abandoned as a baby in a handbag at Victoria railway station...Brighton Line.

To complicate things, Algie has decided to show up uninvited at Jack's house in the country, claiming to be Jack's troubled brother from the city, Earnest. He falls in love with Jack's ward, the charmingly vapid Cecily (Witherspoon), and wants to marry her. Gwendolyn's in love with Earnest, Cecily is in love with Earnest, and there IS no Earnest! Oh, will the wackiness and wit ever cease?

It sounds like a nutty episode of "Love Boat." Indeed, I'm certain many a "Love Boat" script was inspired by the literary greats, but I assure you this film is top notch and you'll love it. It's light fare, and unlike a Merchant/Ivory production, will not muddle your troubled mind in these troubled times. I give it 4 Muffins out of a possible 4! You'll see why.  

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