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Miss Pettigrew Lives
For a Day
By Myles
Hughes
Frances McDormand and
Amy Adams are a solid duo in Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day
As far as a movie premise
that is guaranteed to attract limited male audience members, Miss
Pettigrew Lives For A Day, a romantic comedy/buddy chick flick about
two women in the 1940s helping each other discover the passion in life,
doesn’t quite meet the male moviegoer kryptonite level of, say, The
Jane Austen Book Club. But it’s not too far off either. Having said
that, I hope there are plenty of girls out there who will drag their men
to this picture, or at least enjoy it for themselves, because this film,
for all its flimsy whimsical lightheartedness, is a pure joy.
Guinevere Pettigrew (the
luminous Frances McDormand) is a nanny who seems to be constantly
losing her jobs due to having something of a difficult disposition with
London’s upper crust. Desperate for a job, she steals an ad to work as a
social secretary for Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams, a pure comedic
marvel), a spoiled American actress looking to make it big. This
involves three separate love affairs: half of the joy of the film is
watching her helplessly juggle between them.
We first meet Phil (Tom
Payne, earnest and likable), the director of a new play to be
performed on West End who Delysia is sleeping with in the hopes she can
take the lead role for herself. Despite having two other men in her
life, she fumes at the suspicion that the other actress vying for the
role may be using the same tactic.
Then there’s Nick (Mark
Strong, sleazy and domineering), the owner of the nightclub where
Delysia sings. Much of the story takes place in what we learn is his
flat, though I think if he were to discover just how much goes on in
there outside his knowledge, he would probably flip. Delysia lives
there, though she insists she doesn’t love him; she just needs a place
to stay. Finally we have Michael (Lee Pace, sweetly sincere), a
recently released convict who truly loves Delysia and wishes to marry
her. Though he and Miss Pettigrew get off on the wrong foot, he quickly
wins her over as the man who’s right for Delysia. Pace wins us over too,
as easily the most honest and sympathetic character on the screen.
None of the lovers are
particularly well developed, and it’s left to the actors to develop the
caricatures the script has left them with. There are other side plots,
including a scheming friend of Delysia’s (Shirley Henderson), who
is set to marry a fashion mogul (the indispensable Ciarán Hinds),
who seems to have more than a passing interest in Miss Pettigrew. But
it’s McDormand and Adams, two exceptionally talented comedic actresses,
who make the movie, giving it the zip and energy of a classic screwball
comedy. Even when the story becomes more serious in the second half
(which apparently means more slowly paced and less frequently funny),
the two keep you rooted in the characters with their wonderful
chemistry.
Miss Pettigrew Lives
For A Day should not be mistaken for fine art. It’s an art house
gal-pal throwback to the comedies of its era, utilizing two of the
funniest working actresses today. Oscar potential is almost nil, due to
the ridiculously early release date. Not to fear, however: McDormand
stars in the Coen brothers’ Burn After Reading later this
year, and Amy Adams has the morality play Doubt to look
forward to.
***/****
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