Ernest

The Importance of Being Ernest

         When I began to watch this flick I had no idea what to expect.  The first scene reeled me in.  The dialogue was very difficult to get used to.  I haven’t seen a British film in awhile and the humor was a change for me. A good change nonetheless. Though the Importance of being Ernest was nothing exceptional.  The plot seemed weak but the highbrow humor was hilarious.  Reese Witherspoon and Francis O’ Connor roles were considerably thoughtless for such great actresses.  They were always playing into the lies of their men. Judy Dench was amazing as Lady Braknel. She was hilarious, and played her stuck-up character very well. The mens’ roles were stronger and had more significant parts in the plot.  Though they were not very bright to say the least. Algy was always trying to escape his acquired debts from his irresponsible party life, while his brother Jack (John) was abandoned at birth and put in a handbag.  The two became madly in love in the film and managed to court these unbelievably attractive women with their lies.

         The motivation behind their lies was so both Algy and Jack could get out of trouble. Jack lied and claimed his brother Earnest was in need of being set straight. He used this excuse to leave to the country to escape his life. Jack would do the same thing to go into the city to talk to Ms. Fairfax where he claimed his name was Earnest.  Earnest was a fake person created by Jack so that Jack didn’t have to conform or deal with societal expectations. 

         When the two men try to court their women their secret is almost found out by their blinded lovers.  In the end Lady Braknel has a change of heart and accepts their newly found names after she figures out she is related to Jack and allows him to wed her daughter.