Easy Virtue
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Metascore
58 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 26 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 18 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Ben Barnes, Jessica Biel, Kristin Scott Thomas
  • Summary: The twenties have roared... the thirties have yet to swing. John Whittaker, a young Englishman, falls madly in love with Larita, a sexy and glamorous American woman, and they marry impetuously. However when the couple returns to the family home, his mother Mrs. Whittaker has an instant allergic reaction to her new daughter?in?law. Larita tries her best to fit in but fails to tiptoe through the minefield laid by her mother?in?law. Larita quickly realizes Mrs. Whittaker’s game and sees that she must fight back if she’s not going to lose John. A battle of wits ensues and sparks soon fly. Mrs. Whittaker manipulates every situation to undermine her, while Larita remains frustratingly calm and engineers sassy counter attacks. Before long, Mrs. Whittaker’s manipulation starts to work on John and Larita feels their love is in danger of slipping away. In a grand finale, where the secrets from Larita’s past are revealed, she finally makes a break for freedom from the suffocating house...(Sony Classics)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 26
  3. Negative: 2 out of 26
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    80
    Jessica Biel has great fun with the American adventuress, while Kristin Scott Thomas is truly scary as her nemesis and mother-in-law.
  2. Empire
    Reviewed by: Helen O'Hara
    60
    While its tone occasionally wavers and there are some wobbly performances, this has moments of true lightness, and a welcome sense of whimsy often missing in the costume genre.
  3. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Marc Mohan
    58
    This may have been fertile grounds for satire in 1925, when Noel Coward's drawing-room melodrama Easy Virtue debuted on the stage, but by now this film version feels rather done.
  4. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    38
    Easy Virtue may be a bauble, as Larita's described at one point, but Coward's examination of hypocrisy demands real skill. The style should suggest "whipped cream with knives," as Stephen Sondheim once described "A Little Night Music." Elliott's film is more like curdled milk with a spork.

See all 26 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. TonyO
    8
    The critical reviews of this one puzzled me a bit with their overwhelming condescension. Luckily the punters are more tuned in to what this really is - which is a pretty well done period piece, based on a fairly savage piece of social critique by a master of cynical stagecraft - Noel Coward. Plus, in its favour, it is sometimes hilarious, and has a number of set pieces that work - and admittedly, a couple that don't. Nevertheless, I liked this a lot better than many of the recent attempts to mount period 30's dramas- eg Brideshead Revisited, or the numerous Poirot and Miss Marple revisions. The movie wasn't just a wallow in nostalgia, for one thing - and some of the emotional issues and conflicts certainly went beyond the usual facile mugging by UK character actors. And personally, I liked the soundtrack, though I can see why some people might find it a bit obtrusive. The key performances by Jessica Biel and Kristen Scott-Thomas are a hoot , and sometimes quite touching as well. The whole thing was surprisingly entertaining.… Expand
  2. Binki
    8
    Really good movie. Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas are incredible, Jessica Biel is pretty good too. The story was simple but great with some incredibly funny moments.… Expand
  3. VickieM
    8
    The story was a little simple, but the acting more than overcame this slight weakness. Excellent performances from Kristin Scott Thomas, Colin FIrth, and Jessica Biel (a surprise). The setting in an old English country house was terrific - the vintage interiors and costumes were wonderful.… Expand
  4. dwightc
    7
    An authentic comedy, realistic slapstick and a beautiful setting.

See all 8 User Reviews

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