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Easy Virtue

  • 2008
  • PG-13
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
22K
YOUR RATING
Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jessica Biel, and Ben Barnes in Easy Virtue (2008)
A young Englishman (Barnes) brings his glamorous American bride (Biel) home to meet his family, and she arrives like a blast from the future, blowing their entrenched British stuffiness out the window.
Play trailer2:02
1 Video
61 Photos
ComedyRomance

A young Englishman marries a glamorous American. When he brings her home to meet the parents, she arrives like a blast from the future - blowing their entrenched British stuffiness out the w... Read allA young Englishman marries a glamorous American. When he brings her home to meet the parents, she arrives like a blast from the future - blowing their entrenched British stuffiness out the window.A young Englishman marries a glamorous American. When he brings her home to meet the parents, she arrives like a blast from the future - blowing their entrenched British stuffiness out the window.

  • Director
    • Stephan Elliott
  • Writers
    • Stephan Elliott
    • Sheridan Jobbins
    • Noël Coward
  • Stars
    • Jessica Biel
    • Ben Barnes
    • Kristin Scott Thomas
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    22K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Stephan Elliott
    • Writers
      • Stephan Elliott
      • Sheridan Jobbins
      • Noël Coward
    • Stars
      • Jessica Biel
      • Ben Barnes
      • Kristin Scott Thomas
    • 91User reviews
    • 129Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos1

    Easy Virtue
    Trailer 2:02
    Watch Easy Virtue

    Photos61

    Easy Virtue (2008)
    Jessica Biel and Stephan Elliott in Easy Virtue (2008)
    Jessica Biel and Christian Brassington in Easy Virtue (2008)
    Jessica Biel and Christian Brassington in Easy Virtue (2008)
    Jessica Biel in Easy Virtue (2008)
    Easy Virtue (2008)
    Jessica Biel and Ben Barnes in Easy Virtue (2008)
    Jessica Biel and Ben Barnes in Easy Virtue (2008)
    Ben Barnes in Easy Virtue (2008)
    Kimberley Nixon in Easy Virtue (2008)
    Jessica Biel and Ben Barnes in Easy Virtue (2008)
    Kristin Scott Thomas in Easy Virtue (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jessica Biel
    Jessica Biel
    • Larita Whittaker
    Ben Barnes
    Ben Barnes
    • John Whittaker
    Kristin Scott Thomas
    Kristin Scott Thomas
    • Veronica Whittaker
    Colin Firth
    Colin Firth
    • Mr. Whittaker
    Kimberley Nixon
    Kimberley Nixon
    • Hilda Whittaker
    Katherine Parkinson
    Katherine Parkinson
    • Marion Whittaker
    Kris Marshall
    Kris Marshall
    • Furber
    Christian Brassington
    Christian Brassington
    • Phillip Hurst
    Charlotte Riley
    Charlotte Riley
    • Sarah Hurst
    Jim McManus
    • Jackson
    Pip Torrens
    Pip Torrens
    • Lord Hurst
    Jeremy Hooton
    • Davis
    Joanna Bacon
    Joanna Bacon
    • Cook…
    Maggie Hickey
    • Millie the Maid
    Georgie Glen
    Georgie Glen
    • Mrs. Landrigin
    David Longstaff
    • Reverend Burton
    Mike Archer
    Mike Archer
    • Warwick Holborough
    • (as Michael Archer)
    Rebel Penfold-Russell
    • Mrs. Winston
    • Director
      • Stephan Elliott
    • Writers
      • Stephan Elliott
      • Sheridan Jobbins
      • Noël Coward
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the vintage Monte Carlo scene which opens the movie, when Larita first sees John, both her and John's movements are slowed down while the rest of the cast play at "normal" (i.e. newsreel) speed. This was accomplished by filming the crowd, Larita, John, the background, and the foreground mechanics separately against greenscreen and compositing them together at different speeds.
    • Goofs
      Both Larita and Marion are seen reading D.H. Lawrence's "Lady Chatterley's Lover". This book had was published in English in Italy in 1928 and France in 1929, and was not printed in Britain until 1960. But Larita could have bought it in Italy during her 1928 racing tour of Europe.
    • Quotes

      Mrs. Whittaker: Smile, Marion.

      Marion Whittaker: I don't feel like smiling.

      Mr. Whittaker: You're English dear, fake it.

    • Crazy credits
      The band playing the closing music calls out its members' names.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Terminator: Salvation/Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian/Easy Virtue/Summer Hours/Not Forgotten (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Mad About the Boy
      Written by Noël Coward

      Published by Chappell Music Ltd. (PRS)

      All rights administered by Chappell & Co. Inc.

      Licensed courtesy of Warner Chappell Music Ltd.

      Performed by Jessica Biel with The Easy Virtue Orchestra

    User reviews91

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Biel is fantastic in first lead role
    Jessica Biel earns major respect here for taking on a very ambitious task. "Easy Virtue" marks the first time she headlines her own movie, acting alongside powerhouses like Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth. It's based on a stage play by Noel Coward, which coincidentally was first produced in New York in 1925. Usually I hear the words "stage play from 1925" and I want to quickly build and jump into a time machine but the movie is not only painless but it's absolutely lovable at the same time.

    Biel plays Larita, a young American widow in the 1920's making her living as a motorist. She's the first woman ever to win the Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, a feminist long before her time, which attracts the attention of Brit John Whittaker (Ben Barnes). It isn't long before the two are married and he's taking her home to his family's country manor. The matriarch of the house is Veronica Whittaker (Kristin Scott Thomas), an icey, uppity, bitter woman who never lived much of a life of her own and sees Larita as a gold digger and a whore before she even gets to the house. Larita can tell that her mother-in-law doesn't like her and tries very hard to adapt but only alienates herself further in the process. John's father (Colin Firth), a Colonel in World War 1, is the only one who cuts her any slack. He can't stand his family's stuffiness either and sees Larita as a kindred spirit. A battle of one-ups-man-ship soon takes over the house as Veronica desperately tries to get rid of Larita, who refuses to back down.

    The point of the play was a counteraction to British smugness and director Stephan Elliott, who co-wrote the screenplay with Sheridan Jobbins, keeps that basic principle intact. In Larita, summer has found its unlikely hero, a woman who goes by the beat of her own drum, has a strong sense of self, and a backbone. Biel is dazzling in the lead role, contributing a strong will, good comic timing, and an uninhibited playfulness that makes her even sexier. When Larita tangos in front of the family, you can feel the "F You" that she's laying down. Kristin Scott Thomas is perfect as her uptight and scheming foil and Colin Firth is a pro at delivering witty quips as well as digging deeper to communicate the things that haunt the character, whether they be World War 1 or his own family.

    The one-liners come fast and frequent. There are also some very wicked bigger laughs, most of which involve Larita's un-candid sexual nature. A panty-less can-can during a war widows revue is a howler. Another big laugh involving a dog will make animal lovers cringe for sure. "Easy Virtue" is a comedy that works, one of the funniest I've seen all year long. The costume design is very good and the manor looks like a nice enough place to spend 2 hours of your time. It's only when Elliott turns on the musical soundtrack, with tunes old enough to make Frank Sinatra look and sound like Eminem, that the movie really starts to show its age. But no matter. If you're looking for a smart comedy with some really excellent performances, "Easy Virtue" is truly virtuous.
    helpful•42
    17
    • C-Younkin
    • May 20, 2009

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    FAQ2

    • Is "Easy Virtue" based on a book?
    • Is this a period movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 19, 2009 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Đức Hạnh
    • Filming locations
      • Flintham Hall, Flintham, Newark, Nottinghamshire, England, UK(Whittaker estate)
    • Production companies
      • Ealing Studios
      • Fragile Films
      • Endgame Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,656,784
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $110,443
      • May 24, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $18,463,793
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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