Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day Image
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Metascore
63 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.4 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 21 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Amy Adams, Ciarán Hinds, Frances McDormand
  • Summary: In 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew is a middle-aged governess who finds herself once again unfairly dismissed from her job. Without so much as severance pay, Miss Pettigrew realizes that she must--for the first time in two decades--seize the day. This she does, by intercepting an employment assignment outside of her comfort level--as "social secretary." 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. Within minutes, Miss Pettigrew finds herself swept into a heady high-society milieu--and, within hours, living it up. 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. Miss Pettigrew herself is blushingly drawn to the gallant Joe, a successful designer who is tenuously engaged to haughty fashion maven Edythe, the one person who senses that the new "social secretary" may be out of her element and schemes to undermine her.
    During the next 24 hours, Guinevere and Delysia will empower one another to discover their romantic destinies. (Focus Features)
    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Ruthe Stein
    100
    Frothy and exuberantly entertaining - in part because of the sexual innuendoes - it's the best romantic comedy so far this year.
  2. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Stephanie Zacharek
    80
    Watching McDormand navigate that transformation is the kind of thing that can keep your hope in movies, and in actors, alive.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    80
    Sustains itself through terrific forward momentum and two glorious star turns by gifted actresses Frances McDormand and Amy Adams.
  4. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    58
    Adams, of course, is a peach. Her sparkle requires only minor character adjustment and twinkle recharging from her recent triumph as the old-fashioned modern heroine in "Enchanted."

See all 27 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. Musthtrdoc
    9
    Charming, unpretentious, and well-acted, esp. by McDormand and Adams who have delightful comedic timing and chemistry. Some reviewers seem disappointed that it has "nothing more" on its mind, but why is that any less satisfying than a well-made action film?… Expand
  2. VictoriaS.
    8
    Just a lovely bon-bon of a movie. McDormand, Adams and Pace are delightful, and the wonderful Shirley Henderson puts an intriguing spin on what could have been a stock villain. Sparkling production values. Think I would have liked this far more as an actual '30s movie, but as out-and-out charming froth (and there's virtually none of that around as of late), it's a winner.… Expand
  3. JayH.
    7
    Delightful old-fashioned comedy with a terrific cast, especially Frances McDormand. Fine score, good costumes and art direction. Decent attention to period detail. A fun movie.… Expand
  4. BillC.
    0
    This played like it was written ,directed , and produced by a bunch of 4th grade silly girls. The audience at the viewing I saw was 95% female. I thought it was so stupid I left after 12 minutes. It wasn't funny,or the least bit believeable. 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. Francis McDorman is a good actress, why she involved herself in this time waster is a mystery.… Expand

See all 12 User Reviews

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