L'importance d'être constant

SYNOPSIS

This adaptation of Oscar Wilde's famously witty play benefits from superb performances by Rupert Everett (as the cad, naturally), Judi Dench as Lady Bracknell and Colin Firth as Jack (who pretends to have a younger brother named "Ernest", so he can escape his stuffy country home for wilder times in London). Beautifully filmed by Oliver Parker (who also adapted An Ideal Husband for the screen), it only falls down in the casting of Reese Witherspoon as Jack's young ward Cecily (sounding and looking too modern) and Frances O'Connor (again, looking far too contemporary) as Jack's intended Gwendolen.