To continue with our frivolous but fun movies of July, I bring you the whimsical romantic romp Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day starring Amy Adams (Enchanted, The Fighter, Julie & Julia), Lee Pace (T.V.’s Pushing Daisies, upcoming Twilight: Breaking Dawn), Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Green Lantern, Robin Hood), Ciaran Hinds (Amazing Grace, Phantom of the Opera) and the wonderful and amazing Frances McDormand (Raising Arizona, Fargo, Transformers 3).
Miss Pettigrew (McDormand) is an unconventional nanny working for a temp service in pre-WWII London. Her unconventionality gets her in trouble and thus fired more often than not. Desperate for a job, she wiggles her way into an assignment serving nightclub singer Delysia Lafosse (Adams), but not as a governess. Delysia plays the “keeping up with the Jones’” game to maintain a reputation, and since having a social secretary is the in-thing, she must have one. Miss Pettigrew is unprepared for Delysia’s lifestyle, but sticks around for want of a job, unintentionally solving several of Delysia’s immediate problems. In the course of a day, the two influence each other to the point of becoming friends, each having the chance to embrace real love.
McDormand rocks this role, as she does in everything else I’ve seen her in. Her Miss Pettigrew is pitiful yet proud, principled yet forgiving. She inspires sympathy but also admiration, and it is easy to root for her to ‘win’ in her situation. Over all, the film uncovers the insanity of keeping up pretenses while offering forbearance toward those who wear them like this year’s fashion statement. And I love the music. It’s impossible not to tap your foot with all the swinging sounds.
For a whimsical treat, try Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day!
Happy movie-watching, Dry Ground friends!
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