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The Importance of Being Earnest
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Additional DVD options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
DVD
February 1, 2021 "Please retry" | — | — | $9.31 | $7.69 |
DVD
July 27, 2021 "Please retry" | — | 1 | $19.95 | $24.98 |
DVD
May 2, 2011 "Please retry" | — | 1 | — | $12.56 |
Watch Instantly with ![]() | Rent | Buy |
Genre | Comedy |
Format | Multiple Formats, AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen |
Contributor | Parker, Oliver, O'Connor, Frances, Everett, Rupert, Wilkinson, Tom, Firth, Colin, Dench, Judi |
Language | English |
Number Of Discs | 1 |
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Product Description
Starring Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde), Colin Firth (Bridget Jones's Diary), and Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding), here is the hilarious adventure of two dashing young bachelors and the outrageous deceptions they find themselves in over love! Whenever Worthing (Firth) wants to leave his dull country life behind, he makes visits to the city posing as his fictitious "brother" Ernest. There, he becomes smitten with the ravishing Gwendolen (Frances O'Connor, A.I.). But when Worthing is in town, his playboy pal Algy (Everett) is in the country and falling for Worthing's young and beautiful ward, Cecily (Witherspoon) -- while also impersonating Ernest! Pandemonium ensues when these two would-be Ernests find themselves face-to-face and in the predicament of explaining who they really are!
Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
- Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 1.6 ounces
- Item model number : 16478408
- Director : Parker, Oliver
- Media Format : Multiple Formats, AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
- Release date : April 26, 2011
- Actors : Firth, Colin, Everett, Rupert, Dench, Judi, O'Connor, Frances, Wilkinson, Tom
- Dubbed: : French
- Subtitles: : Spanish
- Studio : Lionsgate
- ASIN : B004U7MQZ6
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #62,788 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #7,206 in Comedy (Movies & TV)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
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Don't buy if you live in the US!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2025The movie expands on the original work by adding several venues for the dialogue to take place in that. We're not in the original book. A few minor changes were made from the original dialogue, but the story is well told, and the movie sets and acting are spectacular.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2024My wife and I love this adaptation of a favorite play.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2024Great acting and fun script
- Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2024An entertaining retelling of a classic story - performed by great actors.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2005Imagine the challenge of tackling adapting a near perfect play for the screen, one known and adored across the world as the pinnacle of comedy. Oliver Parker undertook such a challenge in making "The Importance of Being Earnest" into cinematic fare, and the end result is, a new view of brilliance!
Starring Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Dame Judi Dench, and Reese Witherspoon, Earnest spins the tale of comical deceit of two friends, Jack and Algernon. Each conspire through the film to woo girls of their choosing by nearly any means possible. The end result is reminiscient of some of Shakespeare's best comedies, one of implausibilities that are so absurb that you believe them all of the more. Perhaps Wilde, in his genuis of paradox, intended for that to happen all along.
Parker's adaptation of the play is brilliant in its own right. Taking much from the source text, and translating it to a visual medium, such as film, must have been quite daunting. Parker succeeded quite well, creating a film that doesn't ever work to subsume the originial, but complement it in its own unique way. I think perhaps that Wilde would love this adaptation himself!
The acting in this film is superb. First, how can anyone go wrong with Firth, Everett, Witherspoon, and the incomperable Dench, who seethes with her role with an intensity that only she can muster. They handle the comedy with aplomb and naturalness; it sparkles delightful. Reese Witherspoon pulls off her English accent quite well, playing Cicely as young and delightful as she is.
Another aspect of this film that is remarkable is the soundtrack. Normally, a soundtrack blends in to accompany the larger piece. In this movie, the soundtrack stands out as a wild, fun accourement to the film. I quite enjoyed the jazzy feel to it, and the scene where Algy and Jack serenade the girls is so bubbly fun that it inspires intense hilarity. I just purchased the soundtrack and look forward it its many hours playing on my computer.
The Importance of Being Earnest may be a forgotten gem, but once you unearth it, it sparkles like nothing you've seen on your screen in months. I highly recommend you purchasing this movie for your collection, and you may surprise yourself upon how much you actually watch this jewel yourself!
- Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2014I've read and seen the Oscar Wilde play many times over the years, but this film version is a particularly funny farce.The actors look as though they had a thoroughly enjoyable time making it. Each one brings his/her character out to the fullest. It was great to see Dame Judith Dench play Aunt Agatha, and to see Colin Firth and Rupert Everett at times behave like brothers about 10 to 12 years old was just plain fun. The added dream sequences to show that the pure Cecily had more on her mind than her studies didn't detract from the actual play, and Reese Witherspoon does an admirable job of portraying her. In fact the best thing about this film is that all of the actors do an admirable job, including Anna Massey and Tom Wilkinson. They bring nuances to the characters of Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble that I've not seen in any other performance. Massey's portrayal of a spacey Miss Prism, who abides by all of the rules by which a governess must live, but dwells in her head and her idealism so much that she does the improbable. She loses a baby by putting him in her handbag and misplacing it; and though she regrets it, it is the return of her handbag that gets more response from her than the discovery that the baby (now an adult) is safe. Wilkinson makes the audience truly empathize with his shyness. Though this film has been around a good while, I recommend seeing it if you haven't and seeing it again, if you have. Go ahead and watch "An Idea Husband" (another Oscar Wilde play) with Rupert Everett, as well. It's more serious in tone, but still a comedy, and both of these films are filled with witty dialogue.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2024I have watched this numerous times and always catch something new in the incredibly clever witty dialogue. Oscar Wilde is my favorite.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2023Love this movie! Great cast and humor. Period piece with great clothes. Colin Firth and Rupert Everett. Reese Witherspoon and Dame Judy Dench in her most intimidating self. Lighthearted fare to make you feel good after you’ve watched it.
Top reviews from other countries
- ByronReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars The Importance of Being Earnest
Oscar Wilde’s comedy of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ is clever, witty and highly amusing. With a great cast who compliment each other (although I think Rupert Everett might steel the show) should be shown to entertain friends and ignite boisterous merriment after indulging in vast quantities of wine. This film is better than other productions and is highly recommended. As Mr Wilde stated ~ Life is much too important a thing ever to talk seriously about. The film is sophisticated in its own way and has a bearing in its own interpretation.
Byron.
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Regine StriewskiReviewed in Germany on May 31, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Ich liebe diesen Film!
Ich kannte das Stück von Oscar Wilde, bevor ich den Film gesehen habe. Aber, auch danach kann ich sagen: Ich liebe diesen Film!
Der Regisseur Oliver Parker nimmt sich einige Freiheiten heraus. Szenen wurden hinzugefügt, aber das passt zu der amüsanten Geschichte. Ein einzigartiges Film-Juwel, das völlig ohne Schießereien, Explosionen, Naturkatastrophen und Außerirdische auskommt. Wer soetwas erwartet, dem kann ich nur sagen: Hände weg von diesem Film!
Die Story ist verwickelt, aber, das wichtigste an dem Film sind die Schauspieler: Colin Firth, der auf dem Land Jack spielt und in der Stadt Ernst heisst, spielt teilweise sehr zurückhaltend; seine Gesichtsausdrücke sagen oft mehr als viele Worte.
Rupert Everett, der in der Stadt Algy heisst und sich auf dem Land als Ernst ausgibt, spielt sehr extrovertiert, bis auch er sich verliebt.
Daneben agieren die Damen: Reese Witherspoon als Cecily, Frances O'Connor als Gwendolen, die es sich beide zum Ziel gesetzt haben, nur einen Mann mit dem Namen Ernst zu heiraten. Aber, ob das zustande kommt ... wird hier nicht verraten.
Nicht zu vergessen Judi Dench als Lady Bracknell (besser bekannt als Aunt Augusta). Anna Massey als Miss Prism, Tom Wilkinson als Dr. Chasuble und Edward Fox als Lane runden das phänomenale Ensemble ab.
Von mir 5 Sterne für eine romantische Komödie!
- Erika MacdonaldReviewed in Canada on November 2, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!
Love this movie! Such a great, light-hearted comedy. Perfect for fans of Jane Austen, etc.
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SilviaZettoReviewed in Italy on December 9, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Gradevolissimo
Mi mancava questo ironico e divertente film, tratto da un' opera teatrale di O Wilde. Il dvd arrivato perfetto e veloce.
- AnnieReviewed in Australia on October 13, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
Fast service, excellent condition