The Importance of Being Earnest

PG

Released May 22, 2002

1 hr. 37 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

57%

115 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Two young gents have taken to bending the truth in order to put some excitement into their lives. Worthing (Colin Firth) has invented a brother, Earnest, whom he uses as an excuse to leave his dull life behind to visit Gwendolyn (Frances O'Connor). Montcrieff (Rupert Everett) decides to take the name Earnest when visiting Worthing's young and beautiful ward, Cecily (Reese Witherspoon). Things start to go awry when they end up together in the country and their deceptions are discovered.

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Critics Consensus

Oliver Parker's adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic play is breezy entertainment, helped by an impressive cast, but it also suffers from some peculiar directorial choices that ultimately dampen the film's impact.

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Ethan T

This Wilde adaptation brings out the farcical, fun frivolity of the original material in a fresh, new manner that both further enlivens proceedings and adds a few perplexing features. The cast all shine in various moments and seem wholeheartedly committed to the amusement. Firth and Everett, O'Connor and Witherspoon, Dench, and Massey and Wilkinson are all well-cast and solid at worst. Dench, especially, demands attention in all of her scenes and delivers every line as if it were made for her. The music provides great enjoyment, and Wilde's source material an immense advantage for any period comedy. Yes, some moments fall flat and some additions to visuals a bit unnecessary, but this film is a lark.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/09/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Memorably faithful as an elegantly fresh reminder on why it's enjoyably funny thanks to a nice cast, albeit the inner additions that may have not been necessary as they only added on to the cheesy side of "affair". (B)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Rich S

Despite the fact the movie had better actors, the high-school play of The Importance of Being Earnest was better.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/21

Full Review

steve d

A strong adaptation of the always funny play, the cast is a blast to watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

r 9

Largely positive, 2002's 'The Importance of Being Earnest' is fairly funny. Rupert Everett is amusing as Algy, especially across the early scenes. Colin Firth is good as Jack, as are Frances O'Connor and Judi Dench in their roles as Gwendolen and Lady Bracknell. Of the main cast, Reese Witherspoon (Cecily) is probably the weakest of the lot; her accent isn't the greatest. The premise is entertaining to watch play out, even if you can somewhat guess where it's all heading. It has comedic moments and is relatively short, it isn't one to be taken seriously but is nonetheless a more than satisfactory film.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Terrible dumb kinda funny but stupid funny movie that is only entertaining if a YouTuber is taking about it in the background. This is not a movie you see in theaters, on dvd of course. But only with your good buddies when you just want to laugh and make fun of a movie. Then watch this.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/27/20

Full Review

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Oliver Parker

Director

Rupert Everett

Algy

Colin Firth

Jack

Frances O'Connor

Gwendolen

Reese Witherspoon

Cecily

Judi Dench

Lady Bracknell

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58%

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The Front Page

94%

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60%

84%

Secondhand Lions

73%

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

Independent (UK)

A more serious problem is that Parker doesn't trust his material and - under the guise of pointing up Wilde's subversive wit - has opted to play safe.

Nov 15, 2017

Full Review

Robert Koehler

Variety

[An] utterly miscalculated film adaptation of Wilde's play.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

This may be a less than ideal "Earnest," but it still has delights...

Nov 1, 2007

Full Review

Daniel Mendelsohn

The New York Review of Books

Parker's film implicitly endorses the conventional morality that the play-a drama, let us not forget, by the author of "The Truth of Masks" and "The Decay of Lying"-so hilariously lampooned.

Aug 20, 2018

Full Review

S. Jhoanna Robledo

Common Sense Media

Romance and deception in Wilde's clever comedy of manners.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 15, 2011

Full Review

Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 3/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

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Synopsis

Two young gents have taken to bending the truth in order to put some excitement into their lives. Worthing (Colin Firth) has invented a brother, Earnest, whom he uses as an excuse to leave his dull life behind to visit Gwendolyn (Frances O'Connor). Montcrieff (Rupert Everett) decides to take the name Earnest when visiting Worthing's young and beautiful ward, Cecily (Reese Witherspoon). Things start to go awry when they end up together in the country and their deceptions are discovered.

Director: Oliver Parker
Executive Producer: Uri Fruchtmann
Screenwriter: Oliver Parker, Oscar Wilde
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films, Fragile Films
Rating: PG (Mild Sensuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 22, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.4M
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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