Easy Virtue
Metascore
58 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 26 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 26
  3. Negative: 2 out of 26
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  1. 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.
  2. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    38
    A crass, heavy- handed and -- most unforgivably -- largely laugh-free adaptation of The Master's infrequently revived 1924 comic melodrama.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. 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.… Full Review »
  2. JayH
    6
    Flawed and a bit stagy, but quite entertaining. The cast is good. The art direction and costumes are memorable. Good story and score. Colin Firth is the best in the cast.… Full Review »
  3. 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.… Full Review »
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