Easy Virtue (2008)

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

Stars:

Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Kristin Scott Thomas

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jessica Biel	...	Larita Whittaker
Ben Barnes	...	John Whittaker
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Veronica Whittaker
Colin Firth	...	Mr. Whittaker
Kimberley Nixon	...	Hilda Whittaker
Katherine Parkinson	...	Marion Whittaker
Kris Marshall	...	Furber
Christian Brassington	...	Phillip Hurst
Charlotte Riley	...	Sarah Hurst
Jim McManus	...	Jackson
Pip Torrens	...	Lord Hurst
Jeremy Hooton	...	Davis
Joanna Bacon	...	Cook / Doris / Beatrice
Maggie Hickey	...	Millie the Maid
Georgie Glen	...	Mrs. Landrigin

Storyline

Between world wars, the Whittaker's estate is sinking. Only the iron will of Mrs. Veronica Whittaker (Dame Kristin Scott Thomas) staves off bankruptcy while she awaits her son John's (Ben Barnes') return from the continent. To her dismay, he brings a bride: an American widow who races cars. The bride, Larita (Jessica Biel), thinks she and John will visit and then go to London, where he'll work and she'll race. But John is to the manor born, and mother is nothing if not a master at plans and manipulation. Soon it's all-out war between mother and bride, with John's father, Mr. Whittaker (Colin Firth), a burnt out veteran of the Great War, in the bride's corner ineffectually. Mother has a plan to join with the neighboring estate; only Larita is in her way. Can't we all get along?

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Plot Keywords:

estate | female nudity | unhappy marriage | tango | fox hunt | 

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Taglines:

Let's Misbehave!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, brief partial nudity, and smoking throughout

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although she plays his younger sister, Katherine Parkinson is three years older than Ben Barnes.

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Goofs

Both Larita and Marion are seen reading "Lady Chatterley's Lover," which was not published in England until 1960 (the film is set in the late 1920s or early 1930s). (Of course, Larita could have brought the book with her from the Continent.)

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Quotes

Mrs. Whittaker: Smile, Marion.
Marion Whittaker: I don't feel like smiling.
Mr. Whittaker: You're English dear, fake it.

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Crazy Credits

The band playing the closing music calls out its members' names.

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Connections

Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Tango Dance Scenes in Movies (2017)

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Soundtracks

You're the Top
Written by Cole Porter
Published by WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Licensed courtesy of Warner Chappell Music Ltd.
Performed by Andy Caine and James Gillan with The Easy Virtue Orchestra

User Reviews

Light Frothy Fun and more

I enjoyed this movie a fair bit more than the average viewer, if ratings are to be believed.

This very British film is a nice switch from the typical Hollywood romantic comedy, and does not attempt to squeeze within the conventional mold which runs from Four weddings and a Funeral through Love Actually and beyond. The wry influence of the original Noel Coward play becomes fresh again decades later.

Colin Firth is especially adept underplaying the dissolute father in law. He is just there, being, not acting.Totally believable and convincing. When his character is illuminated in a brief soliloquy two thirds of the way through the movie, he is brilliant, and without the ham fisted exposition of so much modern writing, the entire family story is explained, and powerful social commentary on topics from hereditary lands to fox hunting to war to social decay to euthanasia are digested without chewing.

A great example of "Show, not tell".

Jessica Biel is beautiful, here as always, and is never requested to do more than she is capable of. I particularly liked how the film makers did not beat us over the head with her sexuality, going with a muted sensuality most of the movie, except in key scenes where her full power is unleashed to excellent effect.

Kristin Scott Thomas is well cast as the domineering disapproving mother in law, and the British supporting players are treats, though I thought Ben Barnes as the love interest lacked the presence to hold his own in this cast.

We could use more movies like this.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK Canada

Language:

English French

Release Date:

19 June 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Easy Virtue

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$110,443, 24 May 2009

Gross USA:

$2,656,784

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$18,463,793

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ealing Studios, Fragile Films, Endgame Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1