Rotten
[An] utterly miscalculated film adaptation of Wilde's play.
Robert Koehler, Variety
The Importance of Being Earnest
Everybody Loves Ernest... But Nobody's Quite Sure Who He Really Is.
2002 · 1h 37m · PG
Comedy, Drama, History, Romance
Directed by
Oliver Parker
Overview
Two young gentlemen living in 1890s England use the same pseudonym ('Ernest') on the sly, which is fine until they both fall in love with women using that name, which leads to a comedy of mistaken identities.
Director and cast
- Oliver Parker Director
- Rupert Everett as Algernon Moncrieff („Algy“)
- Colin Firth as John Worthing („Jack“)
- Reese Witherspoon as Cecily
- Judi Dench as Lady Bracknell
- Tom Wilkinson as Dr. Chasuble
- Frances O'Connor as Gwendolen Fairfax
- Anna Massey as Miss Laetitia Prism
- Edward Fox Cast
- Patrick Godfrey Cast
- Charles Kay Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
57%
Tomatometer
Fresh
This may be a less than ideal "Earnest," but it still has delights...
David Ansen, Newsweek
Rotten
You might suppose that Oscar Wilde's theatrical evergreen is indestructible. But that would be to reckon without the intervention of 'writer'/director Parker, who really makes a pig's ear of this silk purse.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Rotten
Wilde subtitled his masterpiece "A Trivial Comedy for Serious People." This movie seems intent on being a trivial comedy for trivial people.
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture
Fresh
The Importance of Being Earnest resonates and inspires rapid-fire bouts of laughter, perhaps even a few giggles from the author himself, whom posterity has rewarded the last laugh.
Robert K. Elder, Chicago Tribune
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- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Director
- Oliver Parker
- Cast
- Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver, Rupert Everett
IMDb
6.8
Rotten Tomatoes
85%
Metacritic
67
Comments
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