Easy Virtue

PG-13

Released May 22, 2009

1 hr. 36 min.

Romance

Comedy

List

52%

126 Reviews

Tomatometer

47%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After she wins an auto race in Monaco, vivacious American Larita (Jessica Biel) impulsively marries John Whittaker (Ben Barnes), the son of British aristocrats. Though John's father (Colin Firth) welcomes Larita, Mrs. Whittaker (Kristin Scott Thomas) and her daughters make it their mission to drive her away from the family fold.

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Critics Consensus

A lightweight and pithy Noel Coward adaptation with plenty of sparkle and fizz.

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Marcus T

Dark comedy? If this was a comedy, I didn't get it. It was a romance gone wrong, except with a nice twist at the end. Jessica Biel looked gorgeous through most scenes. Kirsten Scott Thomas's character was unbearable, but it was made up for by Colin Firth. A lot of difficult scenes on the home front in the wake of WWI as the aristocracy's world came crashing down.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/29/23

Full Review

AM H

Beautifully filmed, great acting, Noel Cowards time had passed so script was off, out of time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/10/23

Full Review

Elena C

The movie is excellent for a family night in and culture studies. Fantastic actors, realistic backdrops, care for details, real emotions, hilarious situations, and a dog! So English! The script is elegant, sometimes funny, sometimes sad. Worth watching. Pick up some prosecco and nibbles. Great time!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/23

Full Review

steve d

Jessica Biel is especially good but the story is just so unpleasant and it is rarely if ever darkly funny.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

ashley h

Easy Virtue is a decent film. It is about a young Englishman who marries a glamorous American. Jessica Biel and Ben Barnes give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Stephan Elliott did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the romance.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Just what is wrong with all you self-styled 'critics' . This movie is not pretending to be other than what it is . A Noel Coward gentle sweet and witty little tale . You are not dealing with Starwars here ! Or Gladiator !! You could not do a better job turning a very pleasant 90 minutes onto film . Beautiful Settings . Great cast . Fun and delightfully easy viewing . I'll be intense some other time Thanks . THIS --- is simply very very NICE !!!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

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Stephan Elliott

Director

Jessica Biel

Larita Whittaker

Colin Firth

Jim Whittaker

Kristin Scott Thomas

Mrs. Whittaker

Ben Barnes

John Whittaker

Kimberley Nixon

Hilda Whittaker

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Hank Sartin

Time Out

Rated: 2/5

Nov 18, 2011

Full Review

Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

Echoing the words of the great Porter song, Easy Virtue deliciously misbehaves.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 19, 2009

Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Biel is not completely miscast in this role of the Other in the drawing-room midst, but she exudes a thoroughly contemporary air that never jibes with the Twenties tenor of the English manor-born in the decade after the Great War.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 19, 2009

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Brings alive Noel Coward's stage play and finds a comfortable place on film.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 7, 2020

Full Review

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

A period piece that may play well with those who hate period pieces. [Blu-ray]

Rated: 3/4

Sep 23, 2009

Full Review

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

Easy Virtue makes subtle comedy look easy. The ensemble is brilliant, and Noel Coward's play-brought-to-film is just good enough . . . .

Rated: 7/10

Sep 11, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

After she wins an auto race in Monaco, vivacious American Larita (Jessica Biel) impulsively marries John Whittaker (Ben Barnes), the son of British aristocrats. Though John's father (Colin Firth) welcomes Larita, Mrs. Whittaker (Kristin Scott Thomas) and her daughters make it their mission to drive her away from the family fold.

Director: Stephan Elliott
Executive Producer: Paul Brett, Louise Goodsill, Douglas E. Hansen, James Spring, Cindy Wilkinson Kirven, George McGhee, Ralph Kamp, Peter Nichols, Tim Smith
Screenwriter: Noël Coward, Stephan Elliott, Sheridan Jobbins
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Fragile Films
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Brief Partial Nudity|Smoking)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 22, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.7M

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