Wednesday, April 2, 2008

MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY

“MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY” (Frances McDormand & Amy Adams)

Chances Are if you liked Amy Adams in “Enchanted, you will like her in this . . . just not as much. And Chances Are that if you’ve longed for the days when songs like ‘Chances Are’ were dominating the pop charts, you’ll also enjoy the soundtrack & style of ‘Miss Pettigrew’; In other words, if you’re elderly, this is the flick for you.
With the odd addition of a rather graphic shot of one of the male co-stars rear end, this is very much like the type of films they made in the 40’s. Not so surprising since it is based on a book that was written in 1939.
It is normally the kind of movie I would avoid, but the two female leads lured me in. & although MacDormand & Adams do not disappoint, they can’t make this dreadful script enjoyable to follow.
‘Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day’ is literally a 24 hour span in the life of a woman who goes from the poorhouse to the penthouse in a single day. Aided by the exceptionally ditzy Alysia Defossie (Adams) McDormand’s down on her luck Miss Pettigrew assumes the position of Ms. Defossie’s personal secretary by showing up at the right place at right time.
Alysia, though a pleasure to watch as she flits around in a nearly see-thru robe, is almost too stupid to be taken seriously as a viable character. If you buy into her brain-dead-starlett-in-waiting persona, then you’ll probably enjoy this... I didn’t.
Alysia basically needs help juggling the 3 men in her life – the rich guy who expects her to be there at his beck & call (since he pays the rent on her luxurious ‘loft’) – the young foppish producer who could cast her in a role that would make her a star - & the ex-con piano player who turns out to be the only ‘decent’ man of the trio.
Alysia, in fact doesn’t deserve him, since at the time she was supposed to be picking him up after his release from prison, she was having sex with the well-hung ‘producer’.
Ciaran Hinds plays a lingerie designer who dumps his fiancé; dates a new girl; comes on to a woman he’s just met; goes back to the fiancé & then dumps her yet again – All in a 24 hour span... If Miss Pettigrew lived for a week that would still be a little too much to believe, but the fact that it takes place in a single day ruins any of the likable qualities this film has.
Nice performances – terrible script.

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