Did you people see the same film I saw?

Blistering performances.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

This post WWI setting sees an English country gentleman still coming to terms with the trauma of seeing 20,000 soldiers killed in a matter of minutes on the front, after being ordered over the top, including his entire company, formed of the youth from his local area. His wife, back at the rural seat, in a country that had been bled almost dry by the war, had devoted her own efforts to keeping things going, maintaining the estate, the jobs of the employees, the local life (deprived of a generation of men) and a stiff upper lip through it all. Into this scene comes a lovely young American with a 'past', who was living life to the full. A Motor city gal, she'd just won the Monaco Grand Prix, but was disqualified due to her gender. But it did attract the attention of the handsome heir to the estate, they fell for one another and were quickly married. he then takes her home to meet the family and the fun really starts. This is actually a human drama, but it sparkles with so much wit that it has been labeled a rom-com - but that's only for those who see just one side of this complex story. Not only are there the cultural clashes, over seemly behaviour, food, pastimes and treatment across class distinctions, as well as a disaster involving the family pet chihuahua, but inevitably the American's wishes for her relationship clash with what are seen as the duties of her husband towards the community and the future of the estate (which is in financial straits - and she's not a rich American). The result is that the tide turns against our heroine, reinforced by misunderstandings over that 'secret past', but she has her allies also and in the end you know that somehow she's going to be alright, whereas the destiny of those who remain will probably depend on the wealthy neighbouring landowner. But it is the pleasure of the journey that is most interesting.

Noel Coward gave lie to the maxim "Write what you know". A working - Class Londoner,he was at home writing about England's aristocracy,rich or impoverished,the Upper - Classes in love and at play.Due to his "Talent to amuse" and his fearsome social climbing he was accepted by those whose lives he chronicled so avidly and was not above dropping a royal name or two. In contrast,very few of his portraits of the Lower Orders rang true. Somehow,one felt,he was happier with a Turkish Sobranie between his lips than a Wills' Woodbine. One of his early plays,"Easy Virtue"is a "cuckoo in the nest" story about a rich American woman, in the manner of the times a daring adventuress,who marries into the English Gentry and proceeds to wake them from their centuries - old sleep.Unbeknownst to her,they are on the verge of bankruptcy. Not perhaps one of The Master's most - revived works,it is a sometimes uneasy mixture of comedy and pathos,a blend that he later perfected - indeed it became one of his trademarks - his style here is in it's relative infancy. However,this production rises above any inherent weakness by just slightly guying the original plot,and by the use of deliberate anachronisms of both dialogue and music that connect the rather creaky play with the 21st century. The wonderful Miss Cristin Scott - Thomas treads a very fine line between being hateful and adorable as the mother - in - law who leads the family's rejection of its newest member.She is a tightly wound bundle of hatred and resentment,but still a loving mother to her children.A superb performance. She is matched by Mr Colin Firth who plays her husband,still mentally crushed by losing his battalion in the Trenches.Forget his much lauded "The King's Speech" performance,aided as it was by that much - loved actors' crutch - a funny voice.Here he has little dialogue,but it's what he does with it that counts.The scene where he dances the tango with his new daughter - in - law after she has been seen to be in disgrace by his family is very moving. Finally,Miss Jessica Biehl,has the balls,figuratively,required to match the combined assault by her new husband's relatives and do things her way. At the end of this movie I stood up and applauded.I haven't done that since "Jules et Jim",and I was a helluva lot younger then.

This is a decently scripted film, with great actors. I thought Ms. Jessica did an OK job, she was certainly gorgeous!!! At times though, it seems she over-acted her parts, and it was quasi-irritating. Colin Firth, who is probably the world's greatest actor (right alongside with Philip Semyour Hoffman) was amazing, and super funny... except I felt his character didn't have enough involvement, or needed to be more involved with the story. The ending is actually really good, which holds a lot of weight in book.SPOILERS! I thought the dog n couch scene was a lil played-out, and probably woulda been funnier, if it wasn't drawn-out, and found myself thinking, OK, well this is kinda cliché but cute, then it got to, umm OK got it, let's move on. The dance scene with Firth and Biel, was actually really awesome choreographed with super skill. I was really impressed with their tango, which is not easy to pull off. Well played sir, well played.

The era between the two great wars of the last century is the period where this comedy is set. English aristocracy trying to hold on to ancestral lands, but having a hard time doing so, is the subject of the adaptation of Noel Coward's play of the same title. John, the heir of the Whittaker estate, meets and falls in love with an American race driver. Wanting to bring his new bride home to introduce her to his family, proves not to have been such a good idea, after all.Larita, the ace driver does not have a clue as to what lengths her new mother-in-law, Mrs. Whittaker, will go to remind her of her lowly status as the newlywed woman arrives to the old homestead. Jim Whittaker, the father of John, is a man that has no saying in what goes on in the house, ruled with an iron fist by his wife. It is not too long after the arrival of the American when trouble begins between two women from two different worlds. Larita, after scandalizing the family when a secret about her past life is revealed, decides to leave it all because she realizes the husband she married care more for his status, than for her. It is the opportunity Jim Whittaker has wanted in order to escape his horrible life.Directed by Stephan Elliott, who adapted Noel Coward's material with Sheridan Jobbins, succeeds in creating a comedy that holds our attention. The theme of class differences has been done before. Surprisingly, Alfred Hitchcock directed the original screen adaptation of the play in 1928. Not having seen it, there is no basis for comparison. What Mr. Elliott achieved was bringing a remarkable cast to do justice to the Noel Coward witty play for our benefit. Some well known songs by Mr. Coward are heard throughout the film.Jessica Biel proves to be a good choice for Larita, the American race driver. She holds her own playing opposite the likes of Colin Firth and the wonderful Kristin Scott-Thomas, who makes the hateful Mrs. Whittaker a figure of scorn, but never descending into a caricature of the character. The English supporting cast, especially Ben Barnes, playing John Whittaker, is good. Kris Marshall is perfect as the drinking butler.