Easy Virtue

First things first ladies: this film is a must see, simply just for an hour and a half of Colin Firth, complete with stubble and ruffled hair. Not just easy on the eyes, but he also delivers an entertaining performance. A typical romcom, most of the humour is actually delivered by the less prominent characters; Colin Firth and Britain’s finest Kris Marshall (the cheeky one from My Family). They deliver the one liners that have you chuckling throughout the film. And for the guys – well, we have Jessica Alba playing your not so stereotypical 1920’s lady, whose character is in fact the first female winner of the grand prix. Gorgeous lady who loves her motoring, what more could a man want?
The storyline focuses on a wealthy British family in the 1920’s, the mother of which is proud of the family’s heritage and desperate for her offspring to marry well. But her son John’s surprise marriage to glamorous American Larita whose lifestyle completely contrasts to that of the family’s throws a spanner in the works. Larita tries desperately to fit in and please her new mother-in-law, who is, of course, hard to please, doing all she can to exclude the new wife from the family. Larita realises she must fight back, as both wife and mother are in fear of losing their beloved John. And so begins a battle between the ladies.
OK, so you’re thinking Monster In Law all over again, but across the Atlantic and transported back about 80 years. Not quite. You’re not sure what to expect at first – where will they take the storyline from here? Throw in some unexpected twists and you have more than your average early 20’s drama – deceit, temptation, revenge, defiance, as each character discovers something shocking about themselves that’s been hidden away for years.
If it all sounds a bit lacking in action, or perhaps a bit too soft for you, just consider this: with a rugged Colin Firth as part of the supporting cast, where can you possibly go wrong?

Verdict: 7/10