Without so much as severance pay, Miss Pettigrew realizes that she must--for the first time in two decades--seize the day. But the acting and all is so well done that this "happily ever after" story can just be forgiven and enjoyed. What a knockout apartment Amy Adam's character had, and the Savoy Hotel, wow again! Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day is a glitzy snapshot into 1930’s high society just before the Second World War broke out; a story of impromptu rags to riches, glamorous nightclubs and indecisive passion. She had lost her job as a … Your emotional strings are pulled when you think that Miss Pettigrew is suddenly tossed back where she was in the beginning, alone in a terminal with no hope. I didn't laugh at all during this movie. However, if you're interested in seeing good acting, excellent art direction, and fun, whimsical characters then you won't be disappointed. Illustration: Persephone Books It was so much fun that Winifred Watson’s … Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is warm-hearted and engaging, and much too good to be dismissed as mere romantic whimsy, although it is undeniably both romantic and whimsical. The pace was crisp & whimsical, the acting delightful, and the script full of deliciously witty banter. I think it's probably the director's fault. Superb acting by Amy Adams. Jayne Film Reviews 20th century / Friday Film Review / London 29 Comments. If you have any male hormone in ya, this. Francis McDormand gives an excellent performance as the lead character. Ciaran Hinds (Julius Ceaser from HBO's "Rome") was great. As the reader goes through the fabulously mad-cap day they find themselves hoping that the day will never end and that Miss Pettigrew won’t have to return to her previous life. Read the book. Miss Pettigrew, entirely unaccustomed to kindness, is treated with kindness and appreciation, and blooms in response. McDormand is enchanting in the title role and Adams is charming, too, Down and out sneaks into the up and coming, Sophisticated comedy or middling fairy tale? Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is something of a fairy-tale, or perhaps just a warm-hearted story. The dialog took 2nd place anyway as the sets, the costumes, the production, and the pacing dazzled, and moved the story at a nice a clip, too nice to bore. I'm very surprised at the enthusiasm of the majority of the reviewers, but good for them if they enjoyed it. Actually, that may have been deliberate as the over all theme is how the modern life (i.e., modern in 1939) is not as satisfying as old fashioned values. And quite the day it was. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) Genre: Romantic Comedy Grade: C. This is a movie I wanted to love, yearned to love, and hoped to love. In fact Shirley Henderson ("Moaning Myrtle" in HP2, Miss Mellmott in the BBC The Way We Live Now) managed to do her epitome-of-evil thing quite well. Perhaps for this reason it may not be to some people's liking. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day Rating & Content Info Why is Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day rated PG-13? Fri Mar 14 2008, 01:56pm | 7 comments. Sometimes too much innuendo in a movie makes it sleazy and unbearably tacky, not the case with this one. on. Just like a classic film you'd sit down and watch with the family at Christmas. © 2021 METACRITIC, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. At least it has Frances MacDormand. Soon she befriends and is hired by Delysia, a beautiful woman that manipulates her two lovers to live comfortably, sing in a nightclub and be cast for a play. However, as the film progresses, we learn that she is much more than that. Published. Based on the 1939 novel by Winifred Watson, MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY exudes the jaunty fun of a high-society London bent on squeezing the last bit of joy out of life before heading to war. London, England, on the eve of World War II. Please enter your birth date to watch this video: You are not allowed to view this material at this time. OK, the plot is at best schmaltzy. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is a 2008 romantic comedy film directed by Bharat Nalluri, starring Frances McDormand and Amy Adams. The production, directing, writing, and acting are all superb as they recreate the WWII era in England. Frances McDormand stars as Miss Pettigrew and when the story opens, she has just been fired from the position as a servant of a wealthy lady. The critics have spoken, and what they've said is this: Do not see these... Music title data, credits, and images provided by, Movie title data, credits, and poster art provided by. by McDormand and Adams who have delightful comedic timing and chemistry. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (United Kingdom, 2008) A movie review by James Berardinelli Amy Adams must enjoy fairy tales - this is the second one in … Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, This Miss is bliss! But something in Watson’s story endures: The wish-fulfillment truly satisfies. From the costumes to the Cole Porter- and piano-heavy score, all of the period details are flawless. Awards There is a third man in Delysia's life and the young beauty is juggling suitors in a quest to become a bonafide star of the screen. Without so much as severance pay, Miss Pettigrew realizes that she must--for the first time in two decades--seize the day. Everything has to take place in this limited setting, but the plot is too thin and the dialog too weak to be effective. "Yes we are, and that's why we mustn't waste a second of this precious life. -The film is written over the course of one day. | So obvious that the screenplay was written by men. McDormand and Adams sparkle in their roles. Amy Adams stretches a bit to deliver a good performance. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some partial nudity and innuendo.. The audience at the viewing I saw was 95% female. The screenplay was first-rate. The romance part works much better, particularly at the end, where everything turns out to be about love. I was drawn to this story of a mousy spinster who gets shaken up in her life after a serendipitous mix up. User Ratings "Like eating fresh cucumber", that's how my wife put it, and she was right on the money. In a refreshing turn of fate, this was an exception. After commenting on having a nicely shaped body, she walks across the room, allowing us to see a … February 25, 2008. Taking the "social secretary" designation to heart, she tries to help her new friend Delysia navigate a love life and career, both of which are complicated by the three men in Delysia's orbit: devoted pianist Michael, intimidating nightclub owner Nick, and impressionable junior impresario Phil. The film basically takes place over a one-day period and has only three sets: the apartment, a nightclub, and the Savoy Hotel. So I saw Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day this morning and I really liked it a lot. Love interest to Pettigrew. She does experiment with drinking at a party and seems to enjoy the atmosphere. The rest of the players are also wonderful, with a word of mention extended to Shirley Henderson for her nice turn as a conniving, inconvenient woman. Unfortunately, I didn’t. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) Reviews on Cinafilm.com - London, England, on the eve of World War II. All of the characters are a delight to read. The story line while familiar, is adapted well enough to be make it a refreshing and witty period film without being cliché or taking itself too seriously. 'Miss Pettigrew' is the newest addition to that list. ". Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day indeed. English by has a nice touch. 13 years ago. How light is this movie? Check box if your review contains spoilers, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Meets Edythe, Now Playing: Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Meets Edythe, In 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew is a middle-aged governess who finds herself once again unfairly dismissed from her job. Francis McDorman is a good actress, why she involved herself in this time waster is a mystery. The only times this film has some life are when Hinds and McDormand share screen time alone, with the other totally uninteresting characters off the screen. | Miss Pettigrew is a … This she does, by intercepting an employment assignment outside of her comfort level--as In 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew is … Is it possible to go from rags to riches in twenty four hours? Review: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. The social assistant refuses to offer another employment to her but Miss Pettigrew grabs the address of the American actress and singer Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams) on her desk and heads to Delysia´s fancy apartment. With no assets, she goes to a soup kitchen for a free meal and when she is about to eat it, she is bumped, and it falls on the ground. But oh dear, nostalgia costumes and art deco lifts don't make a great film, just as a funny walk is not great comedy. Worse, drawn-out mugging by the usually wonderful McDormand and Adams (in supposedly farcical situations) wasn't funny and made the pace positively lurch along, clearly the fault of the direction and editing. If ever there was a stage name that suited a character better I haven't heard it to date. I took the bait and was glad I did. The acting, well Frances McDormand and Amy Adams as the two leads, need I say more. I thought it was so stupid I left after 12 minutes. Miss Pettigrew mentions that she is a minister's daughter and has led a sheltered life. Amy Adams plays the glamorous and high-society singer actress Delysia Lafosse, and when Miss Pettigrew arrives, the apartment is in a state of chaos, Lafosse needs to get the man in her bed dressed and out of the apartment before another man in her life arrives. Jeremiah Kipp. This is the world Miss Pettigrew finds her self swept up into, and where she lives her day…to the fullest. 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