Stars: Amy Adams, Frances McDormand, Ciaran Hinds, Shirley Henderson
Directed by: Bharat Nalluri
Reviewed by: Adam Mast, Zboneman.com
Grade: B+
Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day is a winner. A brisk, lighthearted
bit of cinematic bliss that coasts along on the pure charisma of it's
lead performers.
Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day stars Frances McDormand as a London governess in desperate need of a new job. Her search for employment leads her to flighty up and coming actress Delysia Lafosse (played by the wonderful Amy Adams). Lafosse has man problems. Three of them to be exact, and through the aid of the resilient and true to herself Pettigrew, Lafosse may just pick the right guy and live happily ever after.
Miss Pettigrew starts off as a comedic romp painted in broad strokes. The timing is picture perfect, and the whole tone has a decidedly old school feel. Shortly thereafter, the movie changes gears and becomes a story of a most unlikely friendship.
There's a lot going on here, especially for a ninety minute movie. And while a bit of suspension of disbelief is required – the idea that all this craziness would occur over the course of a single twenty four hour period might be tough for some to swallow – the film ultimately works its magic.
The camera simply adores Adams and once again, this wonderfully energetic actress proves she's the real deal. She commits one hundred percent, as she did in Enchanted, and the end result is a breezy, effortless performance. No small accomplishment as this character could have been an absolute annoyance. Happily, Adams walks that fine line and never allows Delysia to become unlikable. As good as Adams is, McDormand is the true revelation here. Not that we didn't already know that she was an outstanding actress (check out her work in Fargo and Almost Famous), but she does things here that we haven't seen her do before. Her frumpy Miss Pettigrew is as streetwise as they come, but it's her vulnerability and sincerity that makes this character so endearing. Together, Adams and McDormand are terrific as two women who have more in common than you might think. And how about a round of applause for a terrific supporting cast, most notably Ciaran Hinds (Munich). The bond that develops between he and McDormand is perhaps the most charming aspect of the entire film.
There are certainly a world of cliches at play in Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day, and while the simplistic themes, like being yourself and seeking out people who will love you for who you are on the inside, have been explored in countless other films, it all works because of outstanding timing and sincere performances. Furthermore, Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day is simply gorgeous to look at. The art direction, the costumes, the cinematography, etc. Director Bharat Nalluri and screenwriters David Magee and Simon Beaufoy (working from a novel by Winifred Watson) have fashioned an absolute charmer.