Rating: 
Summary: A MILDLY ENTERTAINING COMEDY...
Review: After watching this film, it is clear why it was not released in theatres but went straight to video. The fact that it is based upon Noel Coward's play of the same name is immaterial, if the film does not rise to the occasion. Here, it clearly fails to do so and falls flat, despite stellar performances by Julie Andrews and Stephen Fry. That is not to say that it is a terrible film. It is just a mediocre, though pleasant enough, one dimensional film. Here, American film stars and Hollywood's dream couple, Don Lucas (William Baldwin) and Miranda Frayle (Jeanne Tripplehorn) come to a parting of the ways, when Miranda, tired of Don's lack of commitment, meets her prince charming, British upper crust scion, Peter (Colin Firth), who sweeps her off her feet. When he proposes to her, his mother, the very social and regal Felicity (Julie Andrews) is appalled at this potential mesalliance. The thought of a starlet as a daughter-in-law does not sit particularly well with her. When Miranda comes to meet the family, Felicity puts on a stiff upper lip, but almost weeps with joy when Don unexpectedly shows up at her home, hoping to woo Miranda back. They form an unholy alliance in hopes that they will each achieve their mutual objective. Felicity is the doyenne of respectability as she manuevers through the human land mines around her. She wittily and seemlessly transitions from one potential mishap to the other, never losing sight of the prize. Colin Firth is fine in the role of Peter, but it is Julie Andrews, as his mother, who is the shining star here. Stephen Fry also rises to the occasion and gives a wonderful performance as the droll butler, Crestwell. William Baldwin acquits himself well in the role of Don Lucas, though Jeanne Tripplehorn's Miranda is a tad too cartoonish. There is also a subplot involving Felicity's companion, Moxie (Sophie Thompson), and Miranda, one that is not particularly funny or believable. Sadie Thompson handles the role of Moxie well enough, but it is not one of her best performances, as it is too heavy handed. All in all, the movie is a mixed bag. Occasionally funny, it suffers from lack of depth and underdevelopment of the story. But for the stellar perfomances by Julie Andrews and Stephen Fry, the film would probably have totally tanked. Not even Colin Firth or William Baldwin would have been able to save it. Still, it is a pleasant enough little film, as long as one's expectations are not too high, and worth a viewing, especially if one is a fan of Julie Andrews. The DVD is a no frills DVD, offering no bonus features. It does, however, provide a crystal clear, wide screen picture and clarity of sound.
Rating: 
Summary: Comedy shouldn't be dull
Review: Colin Firth gives an unusual performance (for him), a little fey, a litte wry, quite charming, though his character was decidedly secondary and didn't have that much to do except comment occasionally on the proceedings. Julie Andrews's talents were wasted. Jeanne Tripplehorn and William Baldwin were so dull as to be excruciating, no chemistry, no wit, no intelligence, no romance. Surely Julie and Colin have better things to do.
Rating: 
Summary: Better Than Gosford Park
Review: For pure entertainment with no pretensions of being anything more, this was just the ticket. Better than Gosford Park, in my opinion. Julie Andrews, Colin Firth, Sophie Thompson are all excellent. Even William Baldwin was just right. (As much as I want to NOT like those Baldwin brothers, they are pretty good.) This was based on a Noel Coward play, so the idea was to take a stageful of characters and shake them up to see what happens. In this case, as Julie Andrews's character says "Not much, really." And yet, for an hour and a half, servants are scurrying, doors are opening and slamming shut, British aristocracy is pulling out all the stops to maintain its way of life, and Hollywood stars are swooping in to shake things up. So ignore the lukewarm ratings of the professional reviewers and just enjoy good writing, fine acting, and a story that won't change your life.
Rating:
Summary: relative values
Review: for some light fun i think this pic is it and sophie thompson runs away with the show....
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely enjoyable
Review: For when you need a relaxing few moments of a good, British comedy. The interaction between Julie Andrews and Colin Firth is wonderful and sets the tone of the movie. The plot, although a bit predictable at times, is full and entertaining throughout. The time quickly passes as you watch this delightful comedy.
Rating:
Summary: Fun drawing-room comedy
Review: Hollywood and English high society collide in a fluffy little comedy, amusing and witty in quite a few places and with a top-rate cast. It's not quite P.G. Wodehouse, a little gooier and less complex, but it'll hit about the same note. "Everything is quite, quite ghastly." So says the English aristocrat Lady Felicity Marshwood, and rightly so. America's golden acting couple, Miranda Frayle and Don Lucas, has recently split up after a tempestuous romance. Now the glamorous Miranda is engaged to Felicity's son Nigel, and he's bringing her back to England to meet his dear mum. Felicity is inundated by friends making offers of support that she doesn't want, and the servants (with the exception of the brainy butler) are all in a twitter over getting to meet a real film star. Then little disasters begin to strike. It's found that Moxie, Felicity's faithful maid, is really Miranda Frayle's older sister. Miranda herself is charming and utterly artificial -- until her slightly sozzled ex-boyfriend shows up, intending to woo her back away from Nigel. Felicity, her wittily charming nephew Peter, and her thoughtful butler Crestwell must try to keep everything and everyone steady as the entire situation spins out of control. This is a cute little comedy. It has plenty of touches like the Girl Guides drooling over Don, Miranda's makeup and oh-so-perfect hair during her swim, Felicity walking in on Don and Miranda smooching, and the hapless woman being dragged across the Marshwoods' lawn every day by a dog. There's even a clip from the Miranda-Don movie in the middle of it -- a hilariously overacted bit with dreadfully hammy acting. It's great! The casting is great, though a few are a bit well-worn for the people they are played by: Julie Andrews is great as the serene dowager (when she says "I think I'll explode" to Peter, you don't believe she will for a MOMENT!); Stephen Fry has echoes of his Jeeves role as the ultra-brain servant Crestwell; Colin Firth plays a barb-tongued "idle rich" who is enjoying the whole fiasco; Sophie Thompson of "Sense and Sensibility" plays an insecure and overwrought friend/servant with a Dirty Little Secret. Jeanne Tripplehorn is pretty good as Miranda Frayle (she doesn't overdo Miranda's lies and preening); William Baldwin was overacting as Don Lucas, but he was also sexy as heck; Nigel is enjoyably stereotyped as a stiff-uppa-lip type who is also too stubborn to admit that he made an idiotic mistake with Miranda. It's PG for a bit of mild language, usually from Miranda and Don. There's no smut (beyond a few passionate smooches) or violence, though parents should note that it is hinted that Peter is gay. But kiddies will probably not fully understand the storyline and might be bored stiff by it; they won't start enjoying it until they're teens. Okay, so this movie won't make you laugh and cry and vow to go out and live life. It's an entertaining little comedy that is well worth the watch.
Rating:
Summary: I Enjoyed A Lot; Hubby Stayed Out Of Room
Review: Hubby didn't even enjoy what he was hearing on the other side of the house coming from this movie. However, I'd had a hard day, was totally exhausted and needed something extremely light and frothy so I could completely zone out. This fit the bill perfectly. It is an English ensemble drawing room type comedy. Julie Andrews plays a dowager countess in 1953 whose son, the Earl, decides to marry an American movie star. The countess and her nephew (played by Colin Firth) set the stage to seemingly welcome the couple back to their home but really to break them up. Helping them along are William Baldwin, playing an American movie star who was the woman's former boyfriend, plus the countess's maid who knew the woman film star in her earlier life. Slight? You bet but it was just what the doctor ordered.
Rating:
Summary: Not quite what you expect
Review: I bought this DVD because I like Colin Firth. However, he plays a minor role. He is not the prince who sweeps the lady off her feet but rather a stuffy old English relative. Julie Andrews was, as usual, wonderful. The DVD quality was alright but don't buy this movie if you think Colin Firth has top billing.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious! Julie gives a great performance!
Review: I have this on a dvd and i find it wonderful and very funny. I enjoyed it very much this one is a definite MUST HAVE for any fan . go to any measures to get this film or dvd
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable little souflee
Review: I purchased this mostly because of Julie Andrews and Colin Firth. While the film is no classic, it is surely enjoyable. The big comic surprise here is Sophie Thompson (Emma's sister). She is outrageously funny throughout the film, but especially when she's tipsy (during the main party scenes.) A fun 90 minutes. And by the way- did I mention it features the always divine Dame Julie?!
| 
