The relationship between Oscar Wilde and the movies is a very close one. His works have been translated onto the big screen in every decade since 1910.
After adapting to screen Oscar Wilde's 'An Ideal Husband' in 1999, writer/director Oliver Parker brings us another addition to the Oscar Wilde film legacy with "The Importance of Being Earnest."
This comedy of mistaken identity revolves around two main plots. Jack Worthing (Colin Firth), who lives in the English countryside, invents a fake brother named Ernest in order to take periodic trips to London to "visit" him.
While in London, Jack pretends to be Ernest and falls in love with Gwendolen Fairfax (Frances O'Connor).
Aside from his fictitious name, the only thing stopping Jack from marrying Gwendolen is her formidable mother, Lady Bracknell (Judi Dench), who disapproves heavily of Jack.
Meanwhile, Jack's London friend, Algernon Moncrieff (Rupert Everett) flees to Jack's country estate while pretending to be Jack's otherwise fictional brother Ernest in order to flee from debtors.
There he falls in love with Jack's charming charge, Miss Cecily Cardew (Reese Witherspoon).
There is also a minor romantic subplot involving Cecily's governess, Miss Prism (Anna Massey) and the local clergyman, Dr. Chasuble (Tom Wilkinson).
Although the film includes major talent, such as British period actors Dench and Firth, as well as Everett -- who also starred in "An Ideal Husband" -- the real star of the movie is Wilde's dialogue, which Parker, for the most part, keeps intact.
What keeps the film interesting is the possibility that the next line uttered could be smothered in delightful wit.
Oscar Wilde is perhaps the most quotable author since Shakespeare. The quotations resonate with you long after the film is over.
It is through these quips that one grasps the true nature of Wilde. For example:
"To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness."
"Thirty-five is an attractive age. London is full of women of the highest birth who have, of their own free choice, remained thirty-five for years."
"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."
The plot and characters are conventional as far as romantic comedies are concerned. They only serve as a device to facilitate the dialogue, which only an Oscar Wilde could have written.
In all, compared to modern romantic comedies, "The Importance of Being Earnest" holds its own, and does not insult the intelligent and sophisticated viewer.
Despite the clever banter, Wilde purists may find "Earnest" somewhat disappointing.
Parker deleted a good part of the play in order to make the film 90 minutes long.
Parker also took liberties with the play by including several fantasy sequences, as well as a few non-verbal scenes that include Gwendolen getting a tattoo and driving an early automobile.
Also, Charlie Mole's jazz-like score is more akin to a Cole Porter musical than a circa 1895 British period piece.
For those who are not that familiar with Oscar Wilde, the film is a great introduction to the style of this playwright, novelist, poet and social critic.
They will discover that Oscar Wilde is in no way outdated. The content of his works can be applied as easily to today's society as to western society 100 years ago.
Through his work, one could get a sense of Oscar Wilde as a man turning a toothy grin to every facet of life.
"The Importance of Being Earnest" is no exception. It is full of whimsical drolleries that put us in awe of the mind that created them.
Perhaps we should all take a lesson from Wilde and look upon the lighter side of life. After all, as Oscar Wilde once wrote, "Life is too important to be taken seriously."