Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)

Charming Screwball Farce Captures the Pre-World War II Period Well with a Game Cast

Directed by Bharat Nalluri, known previously for actioners and thrillers, this 2008 trifle pleasantly surprised me as it is an assured throwback to the effortlessly breezy 1930's screwball farces with some added serious undertones capturing England at an uncertain time as the country was preparing for another world war. In look and manner, the film is reminiscent of Stephen Frears' 2005 Mrs. Henderson Presents, but I find this a comparatively more entertaining concoction thanks to the sly performances of Frances McDormand and Amy Adams. The featherweight plot centers on Guinevere Pettigrew, a starchy governess turned out on the street with prospects for future employment looking dimmer by the moment.

Suddenly homeless and penniless, she acts rashly in a moment of desperation behind the back of an unsympathetic employment agent by stealing a referral for a social secretary to a bubble-headed American actress fancifully named Delysia Lafosee. Instead of the nanny job she thought she pilfered, Miss Pettigrew finds her vocation to be juggling the three men in Delysia's life - surly nightclub owner Nick who owns Delysia's nicely furnished flat; young theatrical producer Phil who is considering Delysia for the lead in his latest West End production; and penniless accompanist Michael just released from prison and back to reclaim Delysia's heart. Complications stem from Delysia's uncompromising need to land the part in Phil's musical, but naturally she cannot control her heart. Miss Pettigrew faces complications of her own when she finds she has to help social climber Edythe Dubarry fix her relationship with lingerie designer boyfriend Joe despite the fact that Joe is falling for Miss Pettigrew.

It should come as no surprise that everything sorts itself out in the screwball-breezy screenplay by David Magee (Finding Neverland) and Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty, Slumdog Millionaire). What is surprising is how fluently Nalluri directs the proceedings without pulling out a sledgehammer for the encroaching wartime atmosphere. He is smart enough to realize this type of airy farce depends on the fleet tone by which his actors can carry the story. In this respect, casting is ideal as the chameleonic McDormand brings convincing British reserve and her smart comedy chops to the title role. Adams has a field day as Delysia providing measured balance to her innate sprightliness at key moments. Shirley Henderson makes the most of a scene-stealing part as manipulative, helium-voiced Edythe. Even the men fare well in this picture - Tom Payne as shallow Phil, Mark Strong as burly Nick (hardly recognizable as the same actor who sharply played the Jordanian head of intelligence in Ridley Scott's Body of Lies), and best of all, Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies) showing genuine matinee idol appeal as Michael and Ciarán Hands bringing worldly charm to the erudite Joe.

All the grand period detail is lush and impeccably presented from Sarah Greenwood's production design to Michael O'Connor's costumes to John de Dorman's cinematography. The extras on the two-sided 2008 DVD tend toward the predictable. Nalluri provides dry audio commentary where he belabors the technical details at the expense of any other aspect of the production that could have been more interesting. The widescreen version is on one side along with eight minutes of deleted scenes and an interesting eight-minute making-of featurette which focuses on the author of the original story, Winifred Watson, while the full screen version is on the other side with an expendable 18-minute promotional featurette heavy on film clips. January 4, 2009

Movie OK, Amazon On Demand Needs Improvement

Movie was fine and I agree with the other reviewers.

Unfortunately, the movie continually stuttered and lagged on my 2.2 GHz, Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro connected via a university ethernet connection (about 20,000 kbps downstream, much faster than any cable connection). I tried it in both Firefox and Safari with no other programs running. It did not make a difference. The inability to buffer the movie is a real problem with this service. As I use a Mac, I was not able to download the movie first and then watch it. I will not be using the service again until these issues are fixed. January 3, 2009

Miss Pettigrew

Loved this at the movies and it was on my daughter's Christmas list. Charming movie, very uplifting and fun. December 27, 2008

Misstitled, but a delightful film nonetheless

A movie with a score and storyline reminiscent of the JEEVES AND WOOSTER adaptations of P.G. Woodhouse's classic series made for the BBC, MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY is a delightful film, even if it is misstitled (more on that to follow). Set in pre-WWII London, the protagonist Miss Pettigrew, "a governess of last resort," finds herself without work, hungry, and on the street with nothing but the clothes on her back. Frances McDormand is perfectly cast as the wholesome protagonist whose main virtues are an unflappable honesty and common sense.

Forced by the desperate nature of her circumstance, she impersonates a Social Secretary hired by the glamorous but silly Delysia, a wanna-be starlet played by Amy Adams. Involved with no less than three men, she is the exact opposite of the world weary Miss Pettigrew. Though unsure about the morals of her new employer, Miss Pettigrew has no choice but to continue the ruse, lest she end up back on the street.

What follows is a series of entertaining subterfuges deftly navigated by Miss Pettigrew's charm, quick thinking, and human decency. Frances McDormand is perfect for the role, able to capture both the protagonist's wistful desire for elements of the glamor lifestyle (nice clothes, good food, a sure place to sleep for the night) as well as her disdain for the pettiness and loose morals of those who posses them.

Throughout, Miis Pettigrew is remarkably likable; the viewer cannot help but align with her and hope for her success, even if it means the success of other less likable characters. She is also the deepest character, and this is why I think the movie is very misstitled. The implication of the title is that only now, amidst the fancy things and extravagant lifestyles of the other characters is Miss Pettigrew really living. To the contrary it seems that it is other characters who have much more to learn from her than she them. I understand that a good title doesn't necessarily have to relate to the film itself (Fargo, another Frances McDormand film comes to mind), but in this case the title seems disingenuous to the real message of the film.

The dialogue sings it is so well written and intelligently witty (at one point, the not-so-bright starlet Delysia accuses Miss Pettigrew of 'dressing like Oliver Twist's mother). If only all the actors could keep up. Amy Adams over acts through most of the film, but does gain back some ground in her final few lines of dialogue. The male leads are mostly archetypes and were not given many real opportunities to shine; most of the funniest lines were reserved for the girls in this one.

The film really takes off in the third act when the seriousness of the characters' different plights are juxtaposed with an impending war. Bombers in the London sky and air raid sirens interrupting dancing at a club bring grim counterbalance and needed depth to the story. Through these brief glimpses of the world outside the narrative of the film, we see the backbone of Miss Pettigrew, and learn that she is much more than just a failed governess turned impostor Social Secretary.

At first seemingly a period comedy with better than average writing but turning out to be much more substantial, the film is quite funny and more than a little touching, and deserves the accolades it has received. Frances McDormand is a treasure, and is easily the best part of the film. Well worth owning. December 25, 2008

From Frivolous to Fantastic

This movie begins with a flurry of frivolous behavior. However, by the end, it becomes a fairy tale. Will any of us have a day like this? Probably not. But isn't that what movies are for? I enjoyed this movie because it was far from reality--something I want now and then in a good film. It isn't something you are likely to see every day, which makes it exceptional.

This movie is for those who enjoy a little romance and sentimentality. I live in the real world every day, so a little fantasy with Miss Pettigrew was a much needed escape. December 13, 2008

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