Easy Virtue

Name: Easy Virtue
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: May 22, 2009
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Ben Barnes, Jessica Biel, Kristin Scott Thomas

2009

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Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

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Easy Virtue

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: May 22, 2009 | PG-13

Starring: Ben Barnes, Jessica Biel, Kristin Scott Thomas

Summary: The twenties have roared... the thirties have yet to swing. John Whittaker, a young Englishman, falls madly in love with Larita, a sexy and glamorous American woman, and they marry impetuously. However when the couple returns to the family home, his mother Mrs. Whittaker has an instant allergic reaction to her new daughter?in?law. LaritaThe twenties have roared... the thirties have yet to swing. John Whittaker, a young Englishman, falls madly in love with Larita, a sexy and glamorous American woman, and they marry impetuously. However when the couple returns to the family home, his mother Mrs. Whittaker has an instant allergic reaction to her new daughter?in?law. Larita tries her best to fit in but fails to tiptoe through the minefield laid by her mother?in?law. Larita quickly realizes Mrs. Whittaker’s game and sees that she must fight back if she’s not going to lose John. A battle of wits ensues and sparks soon fly. Mrs. Whittaker manipulates every situation to undermine her, while Larita remains frustratingly calm and engineers sassy counter attacks. Before long, Mrs. Whittaker’s manipulation starts to work on John and Larita feels their love is in danger of slipping away. In a grand finale, where the secrets from Larita’s past are revealed, she finally makes a break for freedom from the suffocating house...(Sony Classics)… Expand

Director: Stephan Elliott

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 97 min

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Critic Reviews

Kirk Honeycutt

Jessica Biel has great fun with the American adventuress, while Kristin Scott Thomas is truly scary as her nemesis and mother-in-law. Read full review

Betsy Sharkey

Elliott has created a wonderfully rich battle for propriety in Easy Virtue. The humor might sting, but the pain is worth the pleasure. Read full review

Peter Travers

Director Stephan Elliott uncorks a rare vintage of laughs tinged with heartache. Read full review

Marc Mohan

This may have been fertile grounds for satire in 1925, when Noel Coward's drawing-room melodrama Easy Virtue debuted on the stage, but by now this film version feels rather done. Read full review

Ty Burr

iIf you can ignore a ridiculously overbearing soundtrack - a big if - the film's a pleasant bauble. Still, those coming in cold may be forgiven for thinking they've wandered into "Atonement" remade as a farce. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

If you're looking for a simple-minded farce with campy overtones, this 2008 feature might be your dish. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Easy Virtue may be a bauble, as Larita's described at one point, but Coward's examination of hypocrisy demands real skill. The style should suggest "whipped cream with knives," as Stephen Sondheim once described "A Little Night Music." Elliott's film is more like curdled milk with a spork. Read full review

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User Reviews

stacyshystovska

Dec 26, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie 'Easy Virtue' was released in 2008. Production began with 14 million dollars. This is the second adaptation of the play which goes by the same name, and was written by the English playwright, Noel Coward, in 1925. 'Easy Virtue', directed by Stephan Elliott, is a social comedy. The stars are Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, and Colin Firth, amongst others. This movie takes place in the 1912s.

Laritta, a beautiful American, marries a younger Englishman, John Whittaker, who wants to take her to the English countryside to meet his family. But an unexpected plot twist represented by John's mother forces them to stay much longer than expected. A number of events disclose John's emotional maturity towards to his wife. Having such a strong sense of responsibility regarding the future of his mother and her family, he neglects his wife and ignores her feelings. Under the surface, we see that his mother's egocentrism has destructive impact on the whole family, including her daughters' lives and that of her husband, John's father. But at the same time in the foreground, Laritta who shows the audience her rich and uneasy inner world that is difficult to be understood by the majority of the family.

The characters' dialogues are mostly convincing and the whole script feels very naturalistic, which grabs the audience's attention. Jessica Biel made her singing debut by performing both the main soundtracks, whereas Ben Barnes took on a few less standout songs. The performances of both are equally very good. To my mind, a surprising ending brings a sense of final relief and freedom.

Written by Anastasiia Shystovska… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SheldonW.

May 22, 2009

An old-fashioned comedy of manners that starts as a spirited romp then turns serious in both an unexpected, and expected way [not necessarily in that order]. Smart, funny, poignant and thoroughly engaging. Kristin Scott-Thomas and Colin Firth are wonderful and Jessica Biel more than holds An old-fashioned comedy of manners that starts as a spirited romp then turns serious in both an unexpected, and expected way [not necessarily in that order]. Smart, funny, poignant and thoroughly engaging. Kristin Scott-Thomas and Colin Firth are wonderful and Jessica Biel more than holds her own with both.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

[Anonymous]

May 25, 2009

Surprisingly entertaining - I grinned from start to finish. A nice Saturday afternoon diversion - with perfect casting.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TonyO

Aug 10, 2009

The critical reviews of this one puzzled me a bit with their overwhelming condescension. Luckily the punters are more tuned in to what this really is - which is a pretty well done period piece, based on a fairly savage piece of social critique by a master of cynical stagecraft - Noel The critical reviews of this one puzzled me a bit with their overwhelming condescension. Luckily the punters are more tuned in to what this really is - which is a pretty well done period piece, based on a fairly savage piece of social critique by a master of cynical stagecraft - Noel Coward. Plus, in its favour, it is sometimes hilarious, and has a number of set pieces that work - and admittedly, a couple that don't. Nevertheless, I liked this a lot better than many of the recent attempts to mount period 30's dramas- eg Brideshead Revisited, or the numerous Poirot and Miss Marple revisions. The movie wasn't just a wallow in nostalgia, for one thing - and some of the emotional issues and conflicts certainly went beyond the usual facile mugging by UK character actors. And personally, I liked the soundtrack, though I can see why some people might find it a bit obtrusive. The key performances by Jessica Biel and Kristen Scott-Thomas are a hoot , and sometimes quite touching as well. The whole thing was surprisingly entertaining.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Binki

Jun 26, 2011

Really good movie. Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas are incredible, Jessica Biel is pretty good too. The story was simple but great with some incredibly funny moments.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DawdlingPoet

Nov 25, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a period drama, or costume drama, romantic comedy film which covers themes including parent and child relationships, unhappy marrirages and country life. I found it to be a light and easy watch, with some interesting characters, a surprising number of recognisable well known people in the cast and some pretty witty instances of dialogue. This is very much a character driven drama, as most period pieces are. I thought it was fairly stylish in terms of the costumes worn and settings. It didn't surprise me that it was originally based on a play by Noel Coward, as I felt it did have quite a strong feel of a play or some kind of theatrical production - I also liked the music played, sometimes in the background as its quite underplayed and subtle but enjoyable none the less.

Its quite an easy watch, the main plot is far from complicated and there are some nice instances of cinematography at times, showing the family estate at the start of day, the lavish indoor garden and other such things. However, I did think that if anything, the plot was a little bland at times but I kept watching and found it entertaining for the most part regardless.

Cast wise, Jessica Biel plays the bride to be, Larita Whittaker, with John Whittaker played by Ben Barnes. Biel does well portraying the 'new girl in town', a sharp and witty lady, while John seems very much a mummy's boy type. Other cast members include Katherine Parkinson as Marion Whittaker, Kris Marshall as Furber, the servant and Colin Firth as Mr. Whittaker.

Content wise, the film contains some (mostly quite brief) instances of nudity, implied sex scenes and sex references via an extract read of the famously racy novel 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'. However, there is little else at all likely to offend, with no violence shown on screen (although there is a scene involving an animal being injured but as I say it isn't specifically depicted), no strong language or sustained sense of threat/peril. The film has been given a 12 rating mainly due, obviously, to the nudity and sex elements.

I know that us Brits are known for having a decent sense of humour and 'sending ourselves up' as such and this comes across quite well in this film. The term 'Pomposity' comes to mind - suffice to say, it gets a bit of a ribbing in this film and quite fairly too, if you ask me!. Some of the situations I found quite amusing and as a film of only about an hour and a half long, I thought it was a decent watch. I like the way that the clearly quite proud-ly arisotcratic family members bicker and show their less impressive sides. Its hardly laugh out loud material but it is pleasing in its own way.

Yes, I suppose so. Its a decent example of a period costume drama and adaptation of a stage play. It features some interesting, quirky characters and a good cast - its a relatively easy watch and it has some good instances of cinematography.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JayH

Sep 10, 2009

Flawed and a bit stagy, but quite entertaining. The cast is good. The art direction and costumes are memorable. Good story and score. Colin Firth is the best in the cast.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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