Two years ago, after reading this play, and seeing another Oscar Wilde movie, "An Ideal Husband", I prayed that someone would make "The Importance of Being Earnest" into a feature-length film. My prayer was answered, and even more than I'd hoped for because my favorite actor, Rupert Everett, was in the film. He was so perfect in "An Ideal Husband" and I'm positive that Oscar Wilde himself couldn't have envisioned a better representative of his work. Rupert is English, dashing, witty, extremely amusing in a subtle, sarcastic kind of way. He is the perfect Algernon, the main character in this comedy of manners and errors.

The basic plot is a bit confusing, but a quick synopsis goes like this: Algernon, a spoiled, ne'er-do-well, runs into his friend Jack, a well-to-do rake, who has fallen in love. He is having great difficulty winning the hand of his love interest, as her aunt, played perfectly by Judy Dench, is protecting her interests, and doesn't believe Jack is good enough, since his family history is questionable. In the meantime, Algernon finds out that Jack has made up a brother, named Ernest, and has a ward, named Cecily (played convincingly by Reese Witherspoon), who believes this "uncle" exists, so Algernon goes off to the country to woo her. Much mischief ensues when it is discovered that both men are utilizing the false name of Ernest (not very "earnest" of them, hehehehehe) and discovery of this fact promises to confuse and anger their respective love interests, never mind the mean aunt.

While a little difficult to follow at times, the dialogue is still so refreshing and, at times, hysterical, even 100 yrs later, that it overcomes the confusion. My 13 yr old daughter loved the movie, and didn't find it hard to follow at all. She particularly loved Reese's performance, as she was amazed at her ability to pull off a convincing English accent.

All in all, it is an enjoyable and intellectually stimulating family film; very different from the usual movie fare.

Recommended:
Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older