Taking the "social secretary" designation to heart, she tries to help her new friend Delysia navigate a love life and career, both of which are complicated by the three men in Delysia's orbit: devoted pianist Michael, intimidating nightclub owner Nick, and impressionable junior impresario Phil. FAQ Miss Pettigrew mentions that she is a minister's daughter and has led a sheltered life. So many elements were there - the premise, the characters, flawless casting from the leads to the supporting actors, and evocative and charming look and sound. This played like it was written ,directed , and produced by a bunch of 4th grade silly girls. Cute 'feel good movie.' The romance part works much better, particularly at the end, where everything turns out to be about love. Within minutes, Miss Pettigrew finds herself swept into a heady high-society milieu--and, within hours, living it up. OK, the plot is at best schmaltzy. Check box if your review contains spoilers, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Meets Edythe, Now Playing: Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Meets Edythe, In 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew is a middle-aged governess who finds herself once again unfairly dismissed from her job. Do you want to experience movie bliss? Amy Adams and Frances McDormand created a complex relationship and I quickly felt empathy with their characters. She does experiment with drinking at a party and seems to enjoy the atmosphere. Definitely, maybe! If you have any male hormone in ya, this. Oh how we rolled in the aisles, I don't think. But oh dear, nostalgia costumes and art deco lifts don't make a great film, just as a funny walk is not great comedy. B. The audience at the viewing I saw was 95% female. Read a PG Wodehouse instead. At least Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day has the good grace to go wrong quickly, you don't have to sit there squirming with doubt. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game - Complete Edition, MXGP 2020 - The Official Motocross Videogame, Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer. © 2021 METACRITIC, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. The dialog took 2nd place anyway as the sets, the costumes, the production, and the pacing dazzled, and moved the story at a nice a clip, too nice to bore. (Oops, I guess you might have figured me for a guy by my review name, papacorn, but I'm solidly female.) Amy Adams was just adorable, I really am starting to love her more and more in each movie I see her in, she's just so cute in her role as Delysia. "Like eating fresh cucumber", that's how my wife put it, and she was right on the money. Home » 2008 theatrical releases » Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (review) Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (review) by MaryAnn Johanson. If you have any male hormone in ya, this film will turn it to dust if you stay too long., not to mention the brain cells that will scream and comit suicide. Following the life of a woman who has been colored by the wisdom of having survived one world war, now on the cusp of another, she gives a performance that is both heartfelt and sincere. 4 out of 5 stars. There is a third man in Delysia's life and the young beauty is juggling suitors in a quest to become a bonafide star of the screen. The cast was excellent. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Wow, Delysia tipped the leavings off a dinner plate into the cutlery drawer. Without so much as severance pay, Miss Pettigrew realizes that she must--for the first time in two decades--seize the day. An attempt to gain new employment catapults her into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer, Delysia Lafosse. During the next 24 hours, Guinevere and Delysia will empower one another to discover their romantic destinies. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some partial nudity and innuendo.. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Plan To Go Shopping, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Hollywood, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Joes Scarf, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day: Delysia Michael Quarrel, Notable Video Game Releases: New and Upcoming. But, what doings! Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson. Making a beeline to the appropriate home, she encounters the young starlet, Delysia La Fosse (Amy Adams) who asked for her services. In a refreshing turn of fate, this was an exception. The critics have spoken, and what they've said is this: Do not see these... Music title data, credits, and images provided by, Movie title data, credits, and poster art provided by. A world filled with fashion shows, cocktail parties, and the latest gossip. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Arriving at a penthouse apartment for the interview, Miss Pettigrew is catapulted into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer, Delysia Lafosse. I bought Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson after reading Jacqui’s enthusiastic review confirmed by Max’s review, both excellent, as always.. Guinevere Pettigrew, a strict governess who is unable to keep a job, is fired again… And though Miss Pettigrew hardly approves of Delysia's way of life, she's literally starving. Amy Adams is also fantastic. In a moment of need, she steals the address of a prospective client and pops over to pose as the woman sent for the job. And you really begin to want everything to work out for her. London, England, on the eve of World War II. again, amy adams excells. Girls Will Be Girls. Delysia LaFosse. Read the book. Frances McDormand in the title role was outstanding. Here is the "governess of last resort," a daughter of a vicar, raised in a sheltered world of modesty. Delysia finds herself in 3 relationships and each one has a perk. Acquiring her last job through an agency, she goes there, only to be told that with her record, she is now considered unemployable. Absolutely desperate for work, Miss Pettigrew hears of a position as a social secretary as she is walking out the agency's door. Not only that, Delysia whisks Miss Pettigrew off to a fashion show and salon, where the new social secretary gets a makeover and meets a rich, handsome man (Ciaran Hinds) with eyes for HER. This British comedy looks at one remarkable day in the life of Miss Pettigrew, a London governess who finds herself out of work and desperate for a new situation. | At least it has Frances MacDormand. She must not falter on her morals, however, despite the detours along the way, as she is the last stop for her new boss to finally discover the joy and life of love that has been sitting right in front of her. ". Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day is a glitzy snapshot into 1930’s high society just before the Second World War broke out; a story of impromptu rags to riches, glamorous nightclubs and indecisive passion. Not missing a beat, Miss Pettigrew gets the situation under control with her innate wisdom. by McDormand and Adams who have delightful comedic timing and chemistry. The interloper must be ushered out before Mr. Moneybags returns or Delysia will be in a heap of trouble. Every few years a film comes along that makes you believe in love again. Review: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Cute, light-hearted movie with heart, and a lesson for our times! But for a truly engaging "screwball comedy with a heart" the story and dialogue were often painfully clumsy. Miss Pettigrew, impoverished spinster, following a last desperate lead on a governess position, falls into the company of Deylisia LaFosse and is instantly embroiled in a hitherto unimagined world of indelicate entanglements. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day at Amazon.com. Caught in an aristocratic puzzle of greed, lust, power, and ego, she tries her hardest to remember that love is not a game. I didn't laugh at all during this movie. Miss Guinevere Pettigrew does have quite a day. After commenting on having a nicely shaped body, she walks across the room, allowing us to see a … Published. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. If you want a light-hearted afternoon or evening of entertainment, don't miss this one! Meanwhile Miss Pettigrew meets the lingerie designer Joe Blomfield (Ciarán Hinds), who seems to be attracted to her. It wasn't funny,or the least bit believeable. Without so much as severance pay, Miss Pettigrew realizes that she must--for the first time in two decades--seize the day. The screenplay by David Magee and Simon Beaufoy is based on the 1938 novel of the same name by Winifred Watson . The audience at the viewing I saw was 95% female. Compare the feeling to being a fish who gets caught on the hook, is reeled in,and quickly finds out the worm wasn't worth the misery of being captured. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is a well-acted comedy with enough old-fashioned qualities to make it an enjoyable experience for long-standing audiences. This she does, by intercepting an employment assignment outside of her comfort level--as, In 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew is a middle-aged governess who finds herself once again unfairly dismissed from her job. Frances McDormand was so brilliant and a lot of fun to watch, she's got such a presence on the silver screen and has still got that magical touch. Guinevere Pettigrew, a strict governess who is unable to keep a job, is fired again. The rest of the players are also wonderful, with a word of mention extended to Shirley Henderson for her nice turn as a conniving, inconvenient woman. This is a lovely film with a great plot and a terrific cast. Worse, drawn-out mugging by the usually wonderful McDormand and Adams (in supposedly farcical situations) wasn't funny and made the pace positively lurch along, clearly the fault of the direction and editing. Although she has worked for a placement agency in the past, they give her the cold shoulder this time, mostly because her last three stints as a nanny, with impossible children, fared badly. -The film is written over the course of one day. What else has he done? This is the world Miss Pettigrew finds her self swept up into, and where she lives her day…to the fullest. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day Critics Consensus. If you are reading this review you know this can be a problem. You're gonna have to see the film to find out. it does admittingly get a bit dull after a while, bull still worth your while. By far the best performance was that of Shirley Henderson as Edythe. The weird thing is, is that her character could have been such a tramp, but she made it into someone so cute and likable that her and Miss Pettigrew into a great on screen friendship. User Ratings The social assistant refuses to offer another employment to her but Miss Pettigrew grabs the address of the American actress and singer Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams) on her desk and heads to Delysia´s fancy apartment. Welcome to a world of lavish delights. Love interest to Pettigrew. So I saw Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day this morning and I really liked it a lot. 1939 London comes alive beautifully on the screen, top production values. Adams is engaging as the beautiful but mixed-up starlet while Hinds is marvelous as the man who rediscovers what is important in life. I thought it was so stupid I left after 12 minutes. She had lost her job as a … I'm afraid I found this film toe-curling-lee unfunny. The film basically takes place over a one-day period and has only three sets: the apartment, a nightclub, and the Savoy Hotel. The only times this film has some life are when Hinds and McDormand share screen time alone, with the other totally uninteresting characters off the screen. The other part of the film is that as social secretary, Pettigrew has to fix a relationship between Joe Blumfield and one of Delysia's acquaintances. Adapted from Winifred Watson's novel by the same name and starring the talented Frances McDormand, this film is a gem. Then, don't miss Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, as your day will be as bright as newly minted penny, after a viewing. The cinematography was perfect, capturing pre-WWII London flawlessly. It's about a middle-aged woman, a nanny in 1939 London, down on her luck, who manages to help a young couple realize what love is all about, and in the process finds some love for herself. Amy Adams plays the glamorous and high-society singer actress Delysia Lafosse, and when Miss Pettigrew arrives, the apartment is in a state of chaos, Lafosse needs to get the man in her bed dressed and out of the apartment before another man in her life arrives. | Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is an absolute delight to watch from the very beginning up until the final end. The film is lovely to look at -- so overflowing with lavish furniture, jewelry and interiors that it's almost like a visit to Paris' Musée des Arts Décoratifs. "Yes we are, and that's why we mustn't waste a second of this precious life. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) Reviews on Cinafilm.com - London, England, on the eve of World War II. I'm very surprised at the enthusiasm of the majority of the reviewers, but good for them if they enjoyed it. McDormand has the rare gift of conveying hilarity with her subtle facial expressions alone, and she uses it to perfection here. Miss Pettigrew is a … Awards And I don’t mean sweet and huggable like a teddy bear. This played like it was written ,directed , and produced by a bunch of 4th grade silly girls. There are not many but make up for it in their ominous nature. This she does, by intercepting an employment assignment outside of her comfort level--as In 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew is … ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Delysia Lafosse assigns her the job of "Social Secretary". However, as the film progresses, we learn that she is much more than that. Everything has to take place in this limited setting, but the plot is too thin and the dialog too weak to be effective. I was truly entertained and even enjoyed the music which is of a type I never particularly liked before. -The first thing that surprised me about this movie is the amount of humor and innuendo. Now on to the humor in general. The screenplay was first-rate. But, the day is only getting started. This she does, by intercepting an employment assignment outside of her comfort level--as "social secretary." The story line while familiar, is adapted well enough to be make it a refreshing and witty period film without being cliché or taking itself too seriously. Old fashioned style comedy ridden- this film is a family must. Amy Adams' character is flighty and breathless, running around her pad with no idea what she's doing. McDormand is little more than a neutral character, despite being the title character, because we never get to know her. Its difficult to explain but the innuendo somehow adds a lot to the film. on. If you're looking for a compelling, daring, high brow documentary then this is not the one for you. A re-telling of the Cinderella story, life for Miss Pettigrew is her ugly step-sister and Miss Lafosse the glamorous and perhaps unexpected Fairy Godmother. Charming, unpretentious, and well-acted, esp. Although this is clearly a chick-flick, guys can relate to it as well. Unfortunately, I didn’t. This role plays to her strengths - her presence, facial expressions and perfect timing. Considering “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” is a relatively small picture, it only makes sense that its DVD extras follow suit. Miss Pettigrew...Miss Pettigrew...Miss Pettigrew... Money or love? -I fell in love with "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day". But the charm that emanates from Amy Adams like a perfume in “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” is also a natural gift. Superb acting by Amy Adams. How light is this movie? Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day Rating & Content Info Why is Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day rated PG-13? I almost forgot the story at times while looking at the gorgeous deco details in almost every scene. 13 years ago. By the time there were some enchanting and poignant moments - which only intensified my disappointment over what might have been - the audience seemed frankly bored. Sometimes too much innuendo in a movie makes it sleazy and unbearably tacky, not the case with this one. its certainly the best hour and half you could ask for after Oscar season ... Mcdormand shines and Adam's a gem always... a rare treat. Miss Pettigrew then holds a towel up for her, and Delysia gets out of the tub, allowing us several views of the sides of her bare hips as she stands there, wet and holding a towel in front of her. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (United Kingdom, 2008) A movie review by James Berardinelli Amy Adams must enjoy fairy tales - this is the second one in … [Focus Features]. Fri Mar 14 2008, 01:56pm | 7 comments. The scene where Amy Adams sings one number had me in tears! I pulled out the Kleenex. Amy Adams, who plays the kittenish starlet does an amazing job of taking what could be seen as a fickle, flighty, materialistic woman and endears her to us. In London in the beginning of World War II, the middle-aged Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) is unemployed and hunger after being fired by her alcoholic employer. The book's tone is light and very sweet. Quirky and a bit playful, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day captured my heart. Jeremiah Kipp. Francis McDormand gives an excellent performance as the lead character. Lost in the hostile city, a series of fortunate circumstances lead her to meet Delysia LaFosse, a glamorous and dazzling American jazz singer whose life is a chaos ruled by indecision, a continuous battle between love and fame. Stunning, both. I highly recommend this film, go see it and when it comes out on DVD rent it if not buy it. In order to keep the lid on her lies, though, she finds herself unwittingly becoming a key pawn on the board, moving pieces around to where they say they want to go, but where she knows they truly don't. This quirky romance is set in London right before the outbreak of World War II. When her employment agency sends her to the wrong address, her … All of the characters are a delight to read. 4 out of 5 stars. Miss Pettigrew finds herself off the streets and in the good life as Delysia Lafosse's social secretary. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day review, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day DVD review. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is warm-hearted and engaging, and much too good to be dismissed as mere romantic whimsy, although it is undeniably both romantic and whimsical. She does does a lot of immoral things in the film which might make you think that you would be turned off by the character, but you'll strangely find yourself rooting for her. Francis McDorman is a good actress, why she involved herself in this time waster is a mystery. I don't think it's meant for children and I'd definitely recommend parental discretion as suggested by the rating. External Reviews Please enter your birth date to watch this video: You are not allowed to view this material at this time. I was drawn to this story of a mousy spinster who gets shaken up in her life after a serendipitous mix up. -I really liked the acting in this one. English by has a nice touch. Based on the 1939 novel by Winifred Watson, MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY exudes the jaunty fun of a high-society London bent on squeezing the last bit of joy out of life before heading to war. I thought it was so stupid I left after 12 minutes. Amy Adams stretches a bit to deliver a good performance. Perhaps for this reason it may not be to some people's liking. Published on Fri 20 Mar 2009 20.14 EDT. I can't believe this film received positive reviews. His quiet reserve as Joe, ruggedly handsome,worldly wise, and debonair, is rarely seen in male roles. It had bright colors, a fun story, and enchanting actors. An aficionado of music and styles of the 30's and 40's, I couldn't wait to see this movie and was ready to love it. 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