Nappaland Movies

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MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY (PG-13)

Plot Summary: A prim British governess, Guinevere Pettigrew, finds herself out of work and on the streets until she takes a post as an American singer and actress’ social secretary for a day.

Reason for the Rating: Some partial nudity and innuendo.

Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) can’t seem to find herself a governess position that fits her just right, and instead finds herself dismissed from the employment agency and alone on the street, sleeping in a train station and eating at a soup kitchen. Luckily, she overhears a conversation that American socialite Delysia Lafosee (Amy Adams) is in need of a woman. Pretending to be from the employment agency, she presents herself at Delysia’s door, who promptly puts her to work to wake up her boy.

It’s not a sleepy-eyed child that Miss Pettigrew finds in Delysia’s bed, however, but a nude and randy young man, and thus begins Miss Pettigrew’s eventful employment as Delysia Lefosse’s social secretary. Miss Pettigrew is at once put to work untangling Delysia’s romantic life, including three boyfriends: an unscrupulous nightclub owner, a film producer’s son, and a penniless piano player. (I bet you can’t guess who she ends up with…)

Miss Pettigrew has quite the day, including (gasp!) a lingerie fashion show where she meets the lingerie designer himself, Joe (Ciaran Hinds), an older man who seems to tire of the antics of his posh but profoundly silly crowd. After an impressive day of successful secretarying, Miss Pettigrew’s day culminates when she helps Delysia and Joe see through the vanity of their socialite existence and step out of it.  

In this amusing whirlwind comedy, director Bharat Nalluri attempts to revisit the genre of the screwball comedy and does a smash-up job of it. The film contains many of the hallmarks of the 30’s screwball comedy, such as mistaken identities, fast-talking repartee, a pampered upper-class, and, of course, a romance or two.

The success of Bharat’s attempt is in part due to the excellent cast: an understated Pettigrew to Amy Adams’ over-the-top flibbertigibbet. Stately Joe as a foil to flighty playboy Phil Goldman (Tom Payne). Each character is a pleasure to watch even in their stereotyped roles, as they are portrayed not just as caricatures, but also as humans. The costume design, sets, and art direction make the film an art deco visual feast.

Definitely not just a chick flick, this film is a refreshing and fun reminder of the great movies of old, like His Girl Friday and The Philadelphia Story.

NAPPALAND RECOMMENDS:

A most diverting way to spend 90 minutes. If you often find yourself nostalgically pining, “they don’t make ‘em like they used to,” see this movie which proves that sometimes they do.

AFTER THE SHOW: 

• At first, Miss Pettigrew thought she was picking up only the bad from Delysia—smoking, swearing, and acting as an accomplice to immoral behavior. By the end, do you think Miss Pettigrew has picked up anything good from Delysia? What?

• Even though we sometimes know it’s vain and silly, why does the high-class lifestyle look so alluring?

• Delysia chose, in the end, love instead of fame and opportunity. Have you ever been faced with a decision that made you choose between love (family) and opportunity? Tell about it?

AV

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