Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Over the years I've seen many film reviews that will label something as "frothy" or even a "frothy confection." This description never really spoke to me...but the other day, I watched MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY, and nothing could describe it better than a "frothy confection."

It's frothy because it's almost lighter than air. A lot of energy went into whipping it into something substantial...but the slightest pressure will deflate the integrity. It's a concoction because it is almost unrelentingly sweet and pretty much of no nutritional value.

This isn't to say it isn't fun to consume...because it certainly is.

Miss Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) is a dowdy, straight-laced nanny who has been fired from yet another job because she actually seems to insist on disciplining the children, and perhaps isn't a very good people person. It's the dawn of WWII in London, and there is simply no work to be found. In fact, she's trying to dig food out of the garbage, and is reduced to eating a soup kitchen, and she has lost all of her clothes except the old, brown items she's wearing. By "stealing" a job from her agency, she shows up at the door to a glamorous apartment, whose resident, Delycia (Amy Adams) is looking for a social secretary...a job Miss Pettigrew is not cut out for. Or so it would seem.

Delycia, however, is in the midst of a conundrum. She has one man upstairs in her bedroom (he's a theater producer, and Delycia wants to star in his next show...no matter the cost), but she needs to get rid of him, because the man who owns the apartment she's staying in is about to come over. Miss Pettigrew, almost despite her distaste for the situation, manages to extract Delysia from trouble, and Delysia takes an instant liking for her new "friend."

The movie essentially follows roughly a 24 hour period, in which we meet Delysia's several boyfriends, see the two new acquaintances head to a swanky lunch, pick out some new clothes for Miss Pettigrew, attend a fashion show, host a party and visit a nightclub. Everywhere they go, they meet the same little circle of socialites...a bunch of backstabbers, for the most part.

The movie mostly revolves around Delysia's need to decide which man is right for her (we know almost from the beginning, so mostly we're watching to see how Delysia gets there)...and even more enjoyably, watching Miss Pettigrew emerge from her shell and take some first, delicate steps towards truly reconnecting with mankind. The two women are just what the other needs to kick their lives forward. Not one moment of the film is truly surprising, and while there is plenty of sniping and scheming...no one is really an irredeemable villain.

While the film is not intellectually stimulating, it has lots going for it anyway. First of all, the costumes and sets are fabulous. The designers must have had the best time recreating the highest possible fashion of the time. (Pay special attention to Delysia's bedroom...it is a marvel.) I found myself literally grinning just looking at the movie.

And the performances are delightful. Amy Adams can't seem to fail to be charming. In ENCHANTED, she was warm, funny and irresistible. In MISS PETTIGREW...she's bubbly and full of life, but she's also neurotic and a bit of a floozy. Yet by the end, she's won us over. McDormand continues to do no wrong (in my book). What I like about her is that she can make herself appear plain, middle-aged bordering on elderly, dowdy, severe and humorless...and then in the twinkling of an eye, she drops 10-15 years, is radiant, intelligent and full of humorous mischief. The real fun of this film is watching her very subtle transformation.

I want to give special "shout outs" to Ciaran Hinds as the stuffy, reserved fashion designer who is intrigued by Miss Pettigrew, and to Shirley Henderson as the conniving Edythe. Hinds is just a amazingly commanding screen presence (I'm thinking of his imperious Julius Caesar in ROME), but here he shows his romantic side to really nice effect. Henderson is best known as Moaning Myrtle in the HARRY POTTER films...but here she is far from playing a teenager. Her distinctive voice serves her well in this juicy little role.

MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY is the kind of film you won't remember for long...but it was so delightful during its running time, and left me feeling good for awhile after its conclusion. Honestly, not many movies can even live up to that modest but admirable level.

This movie is just a breath of fresh air! A feel-good, rags-to-riches romantic comedy - the best kind in my opinion! Fantastic cast, fantastic plot, fantastic love story! Great music, great setting, great costumes, great humor! The story is just too sweet! True love can find you at any age and when you least expect it, and this movie is proof that one person can change your whole life for the better in just one day! Highly recommended!

I just finished watching this movie and I can tell you that there are several laugh-out-loud moments, and that the film overall is fantastic. You are drawn straight in to Miss Pettigrew's world and cannot help but sympathize with her lot in life, especially after the guy behind her bumps into her, throwing her food on the ground in the outdoor soup kitchen line. The poor girl thrusts herself unknowingly into a night of drama and fun in high society and is taken for a ride by the younger, more petty crowd around her. And of course, Ciaran Hinds saves the day with his dashing good looks and down-to-earth attitude about the impending war.
A movie well worth watching, whether you like comedy, romance, or a little historical drama.

Never heard of it, decided to give it a go on a rainy day.
Very pleasantly surprised, was a very good movie and fun to watch.
I definitely recommend it.

this movie is funny and sweet and endearing and stylish - a very good time, I bought it immediately after recieving it on Netflix