Review of The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) by Andy M — 07 Jan 2008

Some stories are better told on stage than on screen. If one is judging this film based on fidelity to the original text, it comes up short, to say in the least. The filmmakers decided to try and liven things up by stretching the story with all that film can do, things like multiple set pieces, clever editing, flashbacks and fantasy sequences.

Bits of story were added as well, one involving a tattoo, that did not bode well with me. Now, I love the original play and I'm not judging this merely because it does not follow it to the last letter.

I just feel that it doesn't work. It feels too much like they were trying to make this play more attractive to modern audiences with familiar casting, added sexual tension and beautiful scenery. I found it to be overall distracting.

While I suppose someone who hadn't read the play would enjoy it, I can't say that I did as much.