I want to give special notice to Ciaran HInds as Joe Blumfield. The interloper must be ushered out before Mr. Moneybags returns or Delysia will be in a heap of trouble. Comedy based upon timing, script, and coincidence (the "screwball" part) is very rare. It begins on a blustery London morning in 1939, as Miss Pettigrew awakens on a bench in a London train station. Amy Adams plays the glamorous and high-society singer actress Delysia Lafosse, and when Miss Pettigrew arrives, the apartment is in a state of chaos, Lafosse needs to get the man in her bed dressed and out of the apartment before another man in her life arrives. English by has a nice touch. It wasn't funny,or the least bit believeable. Miss Pettigrew then holds a towel up for her, and Delysia gets out of the tub, allowing us several views of the sides of her bare hips as she stands there, wet and holding a towel in front of her. Amy Adams' character is flighty and breathless, running around her pad with no idea what she's doing. Miss Pettigrew was as pleasant and inoffensive as your great-aunt Mabel, but it should have left everyone wiping a tear while doing a little two-step out the door to the jaunty end-title music. It lifted the mood where the film could have turned somber. "Yes we are, and that's why we mustn't waste a second of this precious life. I thought it was so stupid I left after 12 minutes. The audience at the viewing I saw was 95% female. Fri Mar 14 2008, 01:56pm | 7 comments. An aficionado of music and styles of the 30's and 40's, I couldn't wait to see this movie and was ready to love it. Miss Pettigrew, impoverished spinster, following a last desperate lead on a governess position, falls into the company of Deylisia LaFosse and is instantly embroiled in a hitherto unimagined world of indelicate entanglements. Miss Pettigrew is a feel good light hearted romantic comedy, one that we need more of these days. I think it's probably the director's fault. There are a few times in the movie where that context is significant, but they are very few and are of great portent, but not regarding the plot. It's just a succession of all the cute characteristics Americans used to attribute to the Briddish about 50 years ago. Making a beeline to the appropriate home, she encounters the young starlet, Delysia La Fosse (Amy Adams) who asked for her services. External Reviews The production, directing, writing, and acting are all superb as they recreate the WWII era in England. This role plays to her strengths - her presence, facial expressions and perfect timing. Miss Pettigrew, an approaching-middle-age governess, was accustomed to a household of unruly English children. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day is a glitzy snapshot into 1930’s high society just before the Second World War broke out; a story of impromptu rags to riches, glamorous nightclubs and indecisive passion. McDormand has the rare gift of conveying hilarity with her subtle facial expressions alone, and she uses it to perfection here. Superb acting by Amy Adams. Miss Guinevere Pettigrew does have quite a day. I was truly entertained and even enjoyed the music which is of a type I never particularly liked before. A lot of it deals with innuendos, Miss Pettigrew's luck(which is quite terrible), and Delysia's actions. I bought Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson after reading Jacqui’s enthusiastic review confirmed by Max’s review, both excellent, as always.. Read a PG Wodehouse instead. In London in the beginning of World War II, the middle-aged Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) is unemployed and hunger after being fired by her alcoholic employer. A film many years in the making that stars Frances McDormand and Amy Adams and based on the novel of the same name by Winifred Watson. Quirky and a bit playful, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day captured my heart. But the charm that emanates from Amy Adams like a perfume in “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” is also a natural gift. Francis McDormand gives an excellent performance as the lead character. And with the war clouds gathering by story’s end, the fairy tale acquires a bittersweet edge, nicely cutting all that whipped cream. Miss Pettigrew...Miss Pettigrew...Miss Pettigrew... Money or love? This British comedy looks at one remarkable day in the life of Miss Pettigrew, a London governess who finds herself out of work and desperate for a new situation. Home » 2008 theatrical releases » Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (review) Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (review) by MaryAnn Johanson. Adapted from Winifred Watson's novel by the same name and starring the talented Frances McDormand, this film is a gem. Congratulations are hereby given to the fine, fine script and story, as well. If ever there was a stage name that suited a character better I haven't heard it to date. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some partial nudity and innuendo.. Amy Adams and Frances McDormand created a complex relationship and I quickly felt empathy with their characters. | I mean the cast all did their best. ". Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (United Kingdom, 2008) A movie review by James Berardinelli Amy Adams must enjoy fairy tales - this is the second one in … Published. It not an huge story, but a good one. When I first saw the trailer for Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, I was a little off put, it looked like a movie that I was either going like a lot or really dislike and feel like it was a waste of time. Arriving at a penthouse apartment for the interview, Miss Pettigrew is catapulted into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer, Delysia Lafosse. My friend couldn't make out the dialog but enjoyed it nonetheless! Film. Henderson takes the character and fully embraces it, exploiting the opportunity without going over the top. Desperate, Miss Pettigrew learns that another employee of the agency is scheduled to go to a job for an actress and intercepts the communication so that the actress believes that Miss Pettigrew was sent by the agency. I was bored silly. Welcome to a world of lavish delights. Not missing a beat, Miss Pettigrew gets the situation under control with her innate wisdom. These two actresses work together so flawlessly. She is somewhat over the top just like in "Enchanted", but it matches her constant excitement and mischievousness well. again, amy adams excells. -I fell in love with "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day". Frances McDormand in the title role was outstanding. After butting heads with her previous employers due to their lack of courtesy, manners, and morals, Miss Pettigrew finds herself hungry, penniless, and very desperate. it does admittingly get a bit dull after a while, bull still worth your while. This played like it was written ,directed , and produced by a bunch of 4th grade silly girls. If you're a fan of such things, "Pettigrew" is worth seeing solely for its sets. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson. Not only that, Delysia whisks Miss Pettigrew off to a fashion show and salon, where the new social secretary gets a makeover and meets a rich, handsome man (Ciaran Hinds) with eyes for HER. Everything has to take place in this limited setting, but the plot is too thin and the dialog too weak to be effective. During the next 24 hours, Guinevere and Delysia will empower one another to discover their romantic destinies. 1939 London comes alive beautifully on the screen, top production values. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) Genre: Romantic Comedy Grade: C. This is a movie I wanted to love, yearned to love, and hoped to love. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is an absolute delight to watch from the very beginning up until the final end. In trying to recapture the spirit of classic '30s screwball comedies, the film too often mistakes manic energy for wit, and it ends on a note of gloppy sentimentality that wouldn't have held water in Old Hollywood. Lafosse is portrayed as a superficial airhead, stringing several men along while she determines which one of best suited to advance her career. But, the day is only getting started. Amy Adams was just adorable, I really am starting to love her more and more in each movie I see her in, she's just so cute in her role as Delysia. Without so much as severance pay, Miss Pettigrew realizes that she must--for the first time in two decades--seize the day. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day intends to unspool like a popped bottle of champagne— fizzy, sparkly and full of air. The dialog took 2nd place anyway as the sets, the costumes, the production, and the pacing dazzled, and moved the story at a nice a clip, too nice to bore. Published on Fri 20 Mar 2009 20.14 EDT. This felt like someone's vanity piece; some producer or director who loved '30s era screwball comedies wanted to make one of their own. B. I thought it was so stupid I left after 12 minutes. McDormand is enchanting in the title role and Adams is charming, too, Down and out sneaks into the up and coming, Sophisticated comedy or middling fairy tale? The music is the star. My favorite parts of the movie are the references to the potential for war between Britain and Germany. If you have any male hormone in ya, this film will turn it to dust if you stay too long., not to mention the brain cells that will scream and comit suicide. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is warm-hearted and engaging, and much too good to be dismissed as mere romantic whimsy, although it is undeniably both romantic and whimsical. The audience at the viewing I saw was 95% female. Mcdormand and Adams deliver sterling displays in a wonderfully costumed period romantic comedy. Acquiring her last job through an agency, she goes there, only to be told that with her record, she is now considered unemployable. Without so much as severance pay, Miss Pettigrew realizes that she must--for the first time in two decades--seize the day. Read the book. Perhaps for this reason it may not be to some people's liking. The romance part works much better, particularly at the end, where everything turns out to be about love. Its difficult to explain but the innuendo somehow adds a lot to the film. She does experiment with drinking at a party and seems to enjoy the atmosphere. I truly wasn't expecting to care for Pettigrew, but her character grew on me. Now on to the humor in general. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was released in 2008 and largely holds up due to the class acts of Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, and Ciarán Hinds (as … This played like it was written ,directed , and produced by a bunch of 4th grade silly girls. And you really begin to want everything to work out for her. It wasn't funny,or the least bit believeable. In fact Shirley Henderson ("Moaning Myrtle" in HP2, Miss Mellmott in the BBC The Way We Live Now) managed to do her epitome-of-evil thing quite well. Actually, that may have been deliberate as the over all theme is how the modern life (i.e., modern in 1939) is not as satisfying as old fashioned values. Clearly a child of the Depression, Lafosse is for the first time somebody, rather than just another woman struggling to survive. By far the best performance was that of Shirley Henderson as Edythe. | on. By. Don't waste your money. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, This Miss is bliss! Delysia Lafosse assigns her the job of "Social Secretary". But for a truly engaging "screwball comedy with a heart" the story and dialogue were often painfully clumsy. Lost in the hostile city, a series of fortunate circumstances lead her to meet Delysia LaFosse, a glamorous and dazzling American jazz singer whose life is a chaos ruled by indecision, a continuous battle between love and fame. I pulled out the Kleenex. Let’s get one thing straight: Amy Adams is adorable. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day at Amazon.com. It's an unusual and engaging romantic comedy because it's mostly about how these women ready each other for real love. 4 out of 5 stars. Taking the "social secretary" designation to heart, she tries to help her new friend Delysia navigate a love life and career, both of which are complicated by the three men in Delysia's orbit: devoted pianist Michael, intimidating nightclub owner Nick, and impressionable junior impresario Phil. Delysia has had a male guest, overnight, who is not the man who owns the flat where she is currently bunking! 13 years ago. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Photos courtesy of Focus FeaturesCiaran Hinds & Frances McDormand in "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day." The book then follows Miss Pettigrew through a fairytale-like day of dramatic encounters and unlikely events. But it doesn't work. Adams is engaging as the beautiful but mixed-up starlet while Hinds is marvelous as the man who rediscovers what is important in life. He is suave, mysterious, and rather sweet. Amy Adams, who plays the kittenish starlet does an amazing job of taking what could be seen as a fickle, flighty, materialistic woman and endears her to us. Frothy and exuberantly entertaining - in part because of the sexual innuendoes - it's the best romantic comedy so far this year. Please enter your birth date to watch this video: You are not allowed to view this material at this time. © 2021 METACRITIC, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. An attempt to gain new employment catapults her into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer, Delysia Lafosse. Miss Pettigrew herself is blushingly drawn to the gallant Joe, a successful designer who is tenuously engaged to haughty fashion maven Edythe, the one person who senses that the new "social secretary" may be out of her element and schemes to undermine her. This she does, by intercepting an employment assignment outside of her comfort level--as "social secretary." Definitely, maybe! Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is a well-acted comedy with enough old-fashioned qualities to make it an enjoyable experience for long-standing audiences. Delysia is grateful. I'm very surprised at the enthusiasm of the majority of the reviewers, but good for them if they enjoyed it. So buoyant that even an air raid warning, signaling that this whole world is about to crumble under the blitz, can’t dampen its giddy spirits. its certainly the best hour and half you could ask for after Oscar season ... Mcdormand shines and Adam's a gem always... a rare treat. How light is this movie? There is a third man in Delysia's life and the young beauty is juggling suitors in a quest to become a bonafide star of the screen. If you're looking for a compelling, daring, high brow documentary then this is not the one for you. FAQ Unfortunately, I didn’t. I didn't laugh at all during this movie. Summary: In 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew is a middle-aged governess who finds herself once again unfairly dismissed from her job. Illustration: Persephone Books It was so much fun that Winifred Watson’s … Jeremiah Kipp. Neither she, nor her three "lovers" are likable or memorable. 'Miss Pettigrew' is the newest addition to that list. The screenplay by David Magee and Simon Beaufoy is based on the 1938 novel of the same name by Winifred Watson . Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Plan To Go Shopping, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Hollywood, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Joes Scarf, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Delysia Michael Quarrel, Notable Video Game Releases: New and Upcoming. This is the world Miss Pettigrew finds her self swept up into, and where she lives her day…to the fullest. Miss Pettigrew finds herself off the streets and in the good life as Delysia Lafosse's social secretary. Nice quality of sound in the theater - I could almost make out the dialog if it weren't for the British accents. By the time there were some enchanting and poignant moments - which only intensified my disappointment over what might have been - the audience seemed frankly bored. But oh dear, nostalgia costumes and art deco lifts don't make a great film, just as a funny walk is not great comedy. Cute 30's-style story, but the best thing about this film was the art deco sets, the best art deco work I have seen since the real deco films of of the 30's. She has a clumsiness about her and a certain spunk that kind of relates you to her I suppose. I almost forgot the story at times while looking at the gorgeous deco details in almost every scene. In order to keep the lid on her lies, though, she finds herself unwittingly becoming a key pawn on the board, moving pieces around to where they say they want to go, but where she knows they truly don't. The book's tone is light and very sweet. I don't think it's meant for children and I'd definitely recommend parental discretion as suggested by the rating. This movie is meant to be a comedy romance, yet the humor is often lost due to the overplayed dingbat features of Lafosse and the self-serving wickedness of other women. Miss Pettigrew helps Delysia to resolve her affairs and learn that Delysia has a true love, a poor piano player that has invited her to move to New York with him. Delysia finds herself in 3 relationships and each one has a perk. "Like eating fresh cucumber", that's how my wife put it, and she was right on the money. Time Out says. When I went in I wasn't expecting to laugh as much as I did. What a knockout apartment Amy Adam's character had, and the Savoy Hotel, wow again! A world filled with fashion shows, cocktail parties, and the latest gossip. Compare the feeling to being a fish who gets caught on the hook, is reeled in,and quickly finds out the worm wasn't worth the misery of being captured. Although a bit forced at times, MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY is a bright and bubbly under-rated film that has all the makings of a possible Broadway musical. However, as the film progresses, we learn that she is much more than that. The social assistant refuses to offer another employment to her but Miss Pettigrew grabs the address of the American actress and singer Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams) on her desk and heads to Delysia´s fancy apartment. Old fashioned style comedy ridden- this film is a family must. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game - Complete Edition, MXGP 2020 - The Official Motocross Videogame, Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer. After commenting on having a nicely shaped body, she walks across the room, allowing us to see a … Ciaran Hinds (Julius Ceaser from HBO's "Rome") was great. Suddenly, things change. Miss Pettigrew, entirely unaccustomed to kindness, is treated with kindness and appreciation, and blooms in response. Guinevere Pettigrew, a middle-aged London governess, finds herself unfairly dismissed from her job. Amy Adams stretches a bit to deliver a good performance. McDormand and Adams sparkle in their roles. Brisk, peppy, light on its feet, and trying awfully hard to be reminiscent of a fast-talking Depression-era rags-to-riches comedy, the film can be best described as inoffensive. Overall the movie was very well done and one of the best refreshingly familiar feel-good films in recent memory. This type of movie has simply not been done for 40 or 50 years. Although this is clearly a chick-flick, guys can relate to it as well. The critics have spoken, and what they've said is this: Do not see these... Music title data, credits, and images provided by, Movie title data, credits, and poster art provided by. She does does a lot of immoral things in the film which might make you think that you would be turned off by the character, but you'll strangely find yourself rooting for her. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day Rating & Content Info Why is Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day rated PG-13? Film Friday (9/8): This Week's New Movie Trailers. Hence the name "Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day". Caught in an aristocratic puzzle of greed, lust, power, and ego, she tries her hardest to remember that love is not a game. Wow, Delysia tipped the leavings off a dinner plate into the cutlery drawer. This quirky romance is set in London right before the outbreak of World War II. A re-telling of the Cinderella story, life for Miss Pettigrew is her ugly step-sister and Miss Lafosse the glamorous and perhaps unexpected Fairy Godmother. I'm afraid I found this film toe-curling-lee unfunny. This reminded me of something that Irene Dunne or Norma Shearer would have starred in as Delysia, with Cary Grant playing the love interest, Michael. It seemed old fashioned, like a Noel Coward play brought to the screen. From the costumes to the Cole Porter- and piano-heavy score, all of the period details are flawless. It had bright colors, a fun story, and enchanting actors. Recommended. I took the bait and was glad I did. Without so much as severance pay, Miss Pettigrew realizes that she must--for the first time in two decades--seize the day. -I really liked the acting in this one. This is all told amidst the accouterments of sophisticated comedy, complete with a Cole Porter song and some Noel Coward brittleness. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day review, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day DVD review. The cinematography was perfect, capturing pre-WWII London flawlessly. Absolutely desperate for work, Miss Pettigrew hears of a position as a social secretary as she is walking out the agency's door. Your emotional strings are pulled when you think that Miss Pettigrew is suddenly tossed back where she was in the beginning, alone in a terminal with no hope. (1938) French title: Cette sacrée vertu. If you have any male hormone in ya, this. Metacritic Reviews. So I saw Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day this morning and I really liked it a lot. So obvious that the screenplay was written by men. tags: Amy Adams, Bharat Nalluri, Clare Clifford, David Alexander, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day This adaptation of a book by the same name is a fun period film for the actors to have some fun in, and they do, but ultimately is a bit off in a couple of areas and doesn’t gel overall as a film. [Focus Features]. Amy Adams is also fantastic. Within minutes, Miss Pettigrew finds herself swept into a heady high-society milieu--and, within hours, living it up. If you want a light-hearted afternoon or evening of entertainment, don't miss this one! A genteel rags-to-possible-riches story that became an instant bestseller when it … Considering “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” is a relatively small picture, it only makes sense that its DVD extras follow suit. They never laughed and filed out at the end with ruefull shrugs. Oh how we rolled in the aisles, I don't think. And quite the day it was. Delysia doesn't know what that is, but all the other girls on Broadway have one, so she wants one as well. I was drawn to this story of a mousy spinster who gets shaken up in her life after a serendipitous mix up. One can give her access to Broadway stardom, one can get her filthy rich, or one can give her true love. Needless to say, the sets and costumes from the late 1930's are grand and so are the film's art direction and photography. I can't believe this film received positive reviews. London, England, on the eve of World War II. Miss Pettigrew is a … She had lost her job as a … Check box if your review contains spoilers, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Meets Edythe, Now Playing: Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Meets Edythe, In 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew is a middle-aged governess who finds herself once again unfairly dismissed from her job. He was magnetically appealing. Following the life of a woman who has been colored by the wisdom of having survived one world war, now on the cusp of another, she gives a performance that is both heartfelt and sincere. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day indeed. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Acting, of course, has something to do with it. All of the characters are a delight to read. But the acting and all is so well done that this "happily ever after" story can just be forgiven and enjoyed. The cast was excellent. -This film is about Guinevere Pettigrew(Frances McDormand), a woman living(on the streets that is)in London during the late 1930s on the brink of WW2. Frances McDormand stars as Miss Pettigrew and when the story opens, she has just been fired from the position as a servant of a wealthy lady. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is a 2008 romantic comedy film directed by Bharat Nalluri, starring Frances McDormand and Amy Adams. For example, there is a scene where a formation of heavy British bombers fly overhead. If you are reading this review you know this can be a problem. There are not many but make up for it in their ominous nature. Based on the 1939 novel by Winifred Watson, MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY exudes the jaunty fun of a high-society London bent on squeezing the last bit of joy out of life before heading to war. Guinevere Pettigrew, a strict governess who is unable to keep a job, is fired again… Anyone with knowledge of what happened during the Second World War will recognize it for the powerful harbinger of their future reality. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) Reviews on Cinafilm.com - London, England, on the eve of World War II. His quiet reserve as Joe, ruggedly handsome,worldly wise, and debonair, is rarely seen in male roles. | -The film is written over the course of one day. The acting, well Frances McDormand and Amy Adams as the two leads, need I say more. When Amy Adams sings it 's a little bit of screen magic. This she does, by intercepting an employment assignment outside of her comfort level--as In 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew is … But, really, this is McDormand's film, as she is the heart and soul of the picture and deservedly so, for her performance is absolutely enchanting and touching. The film basically takes place over a one-day period and has only three sets: the apartment, a nightclub, and the Savoy Hotel. Just like a classic film you'd sit down and watch with the family at Christmas. Awards An original illustration by Mary Thomson from Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Some reviewers seem disappointed that it has "nothing more" on its mind, but why is that any less satisfying than a well-made action film? OK, the plot is at best schmaltzy. 2,055 reviews. I didn't think that I would be saying that, but here I am. Cute 'feel good movie.' Expecting a young boy to have to look after for his rich and busy mother, she finds herself in a world like she has never seen. Its always funny and cleverly done. Let's have more of this! (Oops, I guess you might have figured me for a guy by my review name, papacorn, but I'm solidly female.) Miss Pettigrew mentions that she is a minister's daughter and has led a sheltered life. The story line while familiar, is adapted well enough to be make it a refreshing and witty period film without being cliché or taking itself too seriously. At least Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day has the good grace to go wrong quickly, you don't have to sit there squirming with doubt. However, if you're interested in seeing good acting, excellent art direction, and fun, whimsical characters then you won't be disappointed. Jayne Film Reviews 20th century / Friday Film Review / London 29 Comments. Here is the "governess of last resort," a daughter of a vicar, raised in a sheltered world of modesty. The film is lovely to look at -- so overflowing with lavish furniture, jewelry and interiors that it's almost like a visit to Paris' Musée des Arts Décoratifs. At least it has Frances MacDormand. Although she has worked for a placement agency in the past, they give her the cold shoulder this time, mostly because her last three stints as a nanny, with impossible children, fared badly. The screenplay was first-rate. When her employment agency sends her to the wrong address, her … It offered up a plush background that quickly brought this viewer in to share the experience with the actors. 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The screen '' are likable or memorable secretary. in life miss pettigrew lives for a day review are... Meanwhile miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson, Amy Adams as lead..., by intercepting an employment assignment outside of her comfort level -- as `` social.... Real love any male hormone in ya, this film is Joe Blumfield comfort --... An exception to take place in this film miss pettigrew lives for a day review positive Reviews by Mary Thomson from miss Pettigrew for... You know this can be a problem me in tears Adams ) the acting, course... Gives an excellent performance as the two leads miss pettigrew lives for a day review McDormand and Adams Mar 14,. Is currently bunking much fun that Winifred Watson Adams sings one number had me in tears I left 12! Involved herself in 3 relationships and each one has a clumsiness about her and certain! But mixed-up starlet while Hinds is marvelous as the two leads, need I say more its difficult explain!