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      Bright Young Things

      R Released May 16, 2003 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy Drama List
      66% 112 Reviews Tomatometer 68% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score During the 1930s in England, a group of young socialites dominate the national gossip with extravagant and outlandish antics. Among the group is the aspiring novelist Adam Fenwick-Symes (Stephen Campbell Moore), who is attempting to raise enough money to marry fellow member Nina Blount (Emily Mortimer). However, after customs officials confiscate his first manuscript, Fenwick-Symes must recover from the financial setback and figure out new ways to earn money for a wedding. Read More Read Less Watch on Peacock Stream Now

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      Critics Consensus

      Colored with witty performances and a camp sense of satire, Stephen Fry's version of Evelyn Waugh's novel may only be fitfully successful but it does mark a promising debut for the British comic.

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      Audience Reviews

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      E. S Ever since I first watched this it has been my favourite film. I wish I had seen it sooner because it was worth the time I spent watching Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/24 Full Review isla s This is worth seeing for the decent cast alone - David Tennant in period drama get up, makeup and everything, is worth seeing alone I suppose (also Michael Sheen is in it as well - the same applies. Other cast members include James MacAvoy, Emily Mortimer and Jim Carter). Its not exactly an especially tense and suspenseful film but there are some fairly amusing moments and its a pretty easy watch, so its good from that point of view. I can't say I felt especially sorry for the characters who were, of course, high society types (have's, rather than have not's) but I can't say it wasn't entertaining. Some of the dialogue is amusing and I liked that Dan Akroyd is in it, as well as various Brits. This is a fairly good film which is worth a watch if you just want a bit of an easy watch, if you like recognising actors in period 'get up' and the like. The jazz music (of its time) is jolly and perhaps uplifting in a way as well too. I suppose I would recommend this overall, yes. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Nothing new but decent. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member An extravagant flashy 1930's tale about four exceptionally talented yet naive & cocky young adults about their exploits. This film isn't specifically great but keeps you interested for its 100 or so minutes. You keep guessing what the characters will do next. This film was directed by Stephen Fry who clearly can pull an exceptional British Cast, great soundtrack fluffy story it's not too bad. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Written and directed by Stephen Fry, (his directorial debut), adapted from Evelyn Waugh's 1930 novel Vile Bodies. It is meant to provide a social commentary of bohemian life in the 1930's, and it's a bubbly and likeable film, but not all of it works, despite the best efforts of the all star cast, and it does depict one party too many, by which point it does get a bit tedious and repetitive. Aspiring novelist Adam Fenwick-Symes (Stephen Campbell Moore) works for tabloid newspaper magnate Lord Monomark (Dan Aykroyd), but he's found himself in a bit of a financial trouble which means he's had to postpone his wedding to Nina Blount (Emily Mortimer). He wins £1000 after a game with Ginger Littlejohn (David Tennant), which a drunken Major (Jim Broadbent) tells Adam to put on a horse that won't win, which it does, to the tune of £33,000. But it takes Adam over a decade to get his money back from the Major, by which time, Adam is introduced to wild parties by Simon Balcairn (James McAvoy), a tabloid journalist who sneaks into parties. It's a perfect fit for Fry's brand of wit, and he makes a decent job of his first time out as a directed, calling in favours from his friends, including John Mills, who does cocaine. Razz But the film lurches between zany wit and dark drama too much, which does spoil it slightly, despite all good intentions. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review david f Does a very good job of capturing the cynical, satirical tone of Waugh's novel Vile Bodies and brings his characters to life, though the ending was a bit more somber and serious than Waugh's hilariously biting conclusion. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Bright Young Things

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (112) Critics Reviews
      Neil Norman London Evening Standard Fry's dialogue is terrific and interlaces with Waugh's own wit seamlessly. Jan 15, 2018 Full Review Sukhdev Sandhu Daily Telegraph (UK) Satire should seek to sterilise or maim its targets; Fry wants us to feel for them. Jul 29, 2015 Full Review Jane Howdle Empire Magazine Though it falls short of Fry's best work in other fields, this is a sound first feature. Rated: 3/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Doug Brantley Out Magazine A definite must-see, dahlings. May 27, 2022 Full Review Mark Steyn The Spectator What's good about the movie is the lesser known up-and-corners who play the bright young things themselves, especially the appellatorily appropriate Fenella Woolgar as Agatha Feb 3, 2018 Full Review Sunday Times (Australia) Rated: 3.5/5 Oct 18, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis During the 1930s in England, a group of young socialites dominate the national gossip with extravagant and outlandish antics. Among the group is the aspiring novelist Adam Fenwick-Symes (Stephen Campbell Moore), who is attempting to raise enough money to marry fellow member Nina Blount (Emily Mortimer). However, after customs officials confiscate his first manuscript, Fenwick-Symes must recover from the financial setback and figure out new ways to earn money for a wedding.
      Director
      Stephen Fry
      Executive Producer
      Chris Auty, Andrew Eaton, Stephen Fry, Neil Peplow, Jim Reeve, Steve Robbins, Michael Winterbottom
      Screenwriter
      Stephen Fry
      Distributor
      ThinkFilm
      Production Co
      Revolution Films, Doubting Hall Limited
      Rating
      R (Some Drug Use)
      Genre
      Comedy, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 16, 2003, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Oct 4, 2019
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $931.8K
      Sound Mix
      Surround
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