(rated PG, 92 mins.)
Based on the play of the same title by Oscar Wilde, the story tells of Jack Worthing (Colin Firth) and Algernon Moncrieff (Rupert Everett), two men who “bend the truth” in order to escape the dullness of required and boring social engagements. Thus they invent the pseudonym, Earnest, which leads to mistaken identities for the three ladies of their lives. One, a spinster- tough-as-nails-Aristocrat-wanna-be, their Aunt (Judi Dench); two, a lovely and naïve country girl, Cecily (Reese Witherspoon), who spends her days fantasizing of medieval men on horses; and three, another lovely love (Frances O’Connor). Throw in the confused and bewildered teacher/minister (Tom Wilkinson), and you have a mess of a story with an engaging and talented ensemble of a cast. Dench steals the show (what else is new)? The upstanding British Gentlemen (Firth and Everett) of good reputation learn the importance of being earnest is merely enough for any fresh and simple albeit confusing plotline, since the information they offer is utterly useless but well delivered.
