Easy Virtue
This period comedy romp stars the lovely Jessica Biel and Colin Firth and is directed by Aussie Stephan Elliott – best known for The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert. Based on the Noel Coward play of the same name.
Biel stars as sexy, outgoing American Larita who gets married to Englishman John (Ben Barnes) in France, then travels across the Channel with him to meet his parents. She finds favour with her new husband’s father (Firth). As for his cold fish of a mother, played by Kristin Scott Thomas… not so much.
- Director:
- Stephan Elliott (‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’)
- Writer:
- Stephan ElliottSheridan Jobbins
- Cast:
- Jessica BielBen BarnesKristin Scott ThomasColin FirthKris Marshall
Reviews & comments
Fresh, old fashioned fun
Loved it. Saw a preview in Australia with my Nan - but I could just have easily seen it with any one else in my family. They're selling it as a 'meet the posh in-laws' - but it's more like a story about what good things happen to you when you're true to yourself. And with laugh out loud funny bits. Nan and I talked about the ending for ages. I'm...
Variety
pressAn effervescent entertainment that marks a welcome return for "Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" director Stephan Elliott after a nine-year absence.
Total Film
pressIt’s playful, it’s elegant, it’s fizzing with lacerating wit… after the stone-faced dreariness of The Duchess and Brideshead Revisited, it’s a welcome jolt of fresh air to see a Brit period piece you can just kick back and enjoy.
The New York Times
pressIn its cold-eyed assessment of the English aristocracy Easy Virtue has none of the lurking Anglophilia found in Merchant-Ivory movies.
Otago Daily Times
pressAnother director could have made more of this, but Elliot's main motivation seems to be to bring farce back into fashion and, as we all know, that ship sailed long ago.
New Zealand Herald
pressAdaptation of Noel Coward play is both too clever and not clever enough.
Newshub
pressEnough perhaps for those in the mood for an upper crust costume romp amidst some pretty countryside.
Los Angeles Times
pressElliott has created a wonderfully rich battle for propriety in Easy Virtue. The humor might sting, but the pain is worth the pleasure.
Hollywood Reporter
pressJessica Biel has great fun with the American adventuress, while Kristin Scott Thomas is truly scary as her nemesis and mother-in-law.
Empire Magazine
pressWhile its tone occasionally wavers and there are some wobbly performances, this has moments of true lightness, and a welcome sense of whimsy often missing in the costume genre.
Variety
pressAn effervescent entertainment that marks a welcome return for "Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" director Stephan Elliott after a nine-year absence.
Total Film
pressIt’s playful, it’s elegant, it’s fizzing with lacerating wit… after the stone-faced dreariness of The Duchess and Brideshead Revisited, it’s a welcome jolt of fresh air to see a Brit period piece you can just kick back and enjoy.
The New York Times
pressIn its cold-eyed assessment of the English aristocracy Easy Virtue has none of the lurking Anglophilia found in Merchant-Ivory movies.
Otago Daily Times
pressAnother director could have made more of this, but Elliot's main motivation seems to be to bring farce back into fashion and, as we all know, that ship sailed long ago.
New Zealand Herald
pressAdaptation of Noel Coward play is both too clever and not clever enough.
Newshub
pressEnough perhaps for those in the mood for an upper crust costume romp amidst some pretty countryside.
Los Angeles Times
pressElliott has created a wonderfully rich battle for propriety in Easy Virtue. The humor might sting, but the pain is worth the pleasure.
Hollywood Reporter
pressJessica Biel has great fun with the American adventuress, while Kristin Scott Thomas is truly scary as her nemesis and mother-in-law.
Empire Magazine
pressWhile its tone occasionally wavers and there are some wobbly performances, this has moments of true lightness, and a welcome sense of whimsy often missing in the costume genre.
Fresh, old fashioned fun
Loved it. Saw a preview in Australia with my Nan - but I could just have easily seen it with any one else in my family. They're selling it as a 'meet the posh in-laws' - but it's more like a story about what good things happen to you when you're true to yourself. And with laugh out loud funny bits. Nan and I talked about the ending for ages. I'm...
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