# The Importance of Being Earnest (2002 film)

The Importance of Being Earnest is a 2002 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Oliver Parker, based on Oscar Wilde's classic 1895 comedy of manners of the same name. A British-American co-production, the film stars Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Frances O'Connor, Reese Witherspoon, and Judi Dench in lead roles, with Tom Wilkinson, Anna Massey, and Edward Fox in supporting roles. The original music score is composed by Charlie Mole.
The plot follows two men, John Worthing (Firth) and Algernon Moncrieff (Everett), who both lead double lives using the name "Ernest" to escape social obligations, leading to romantic entanglements and comedic misunderstandings. The film explores themes of identity, deception, and social expectations, all set against the backdrop of Victorian England.
The Importance of Being Earnest was released on May 17, 2002.

## Plot

John Worthing, a carefree and seemingly respectable young gentleman, has crafted a fictitious brother named "Ernest," whose scandalous and wicked behaviors provide John with the perfect excuse to leave his peaceful country estate and travel to London whenever he pleases. In the city, John stays with his close friend, Algernon Moncrieff, who is equally mischievous and shares John's fondness for bending social norms. While in London, John assumes the persona of Ernest, and under this guise, he has won the affections of Algernon's beautiful cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax. Gwendolen, enamored with the name Ernest, declares that she could only love and marry a man with such a name.
John is deeply in love with Gwendolen and decides to propose. However, during the proposal, he must face her formidable mother, Lady Bracknell. When John reveals that he is an orphan who was found as a baby in a handbag at Victoria Station, Lady Bracknell is appalled and refuses to approve the engagement unless John can produce a respectable family lineage—namely, at least one parent of proper standing. Determined but undeterred, John returns to his country estate, where he lives with his young ward, Cecily Cardew, and her governess, Miss Prism.
Meanwhile, Algernon, intrigued by John's tales of his nonexistent brother Ernest, decides to visit John’s country home under the guise of this very same fictional brother. Upon arrival, Algernon is introduced to Cecily, who, unbeknownst to him, has already become fascinated by the mysterious "Ernest" through John's stories. Algernon, now posing as Ernest, quickly falls in love with the charming and impressionable Cecily, and to his surprise, she reciprocates his affections, having long dreamed of marrying a man named Ernest.
Chaos ensues when Gwendolen arrives at John’s estate and meets Cecily. Both women discover that they are engaged to men they believe to be named Ernest, resulting in a flurry of confusion and mistaken identities, compounded by the subsequent arrival of Lady Bracknell. It is revealed that Miss Prism, the governess, is the absent-minded nurse who, thirty-four years prior, misplaced a baby at Victoria Station—the very baby who turns out to be John.
From this revelation, it turns out that John is not only Gwendolen’s suitable match but also Algernon’s long-lost younger brother. Most importantly, John pretends to discover that his real name is indeed Ernest, a deception which Lady Bracknell allows to stand. The play ends in a joyful resolution, with both couples—John and Gwendolen, Algernon and Cecily—embracing, as all misunderstandings are cleared and the importance of being "Ernest" is finally realized.

## Cast

* Rupert Everett as Algernon "Algy" Moncrieff
* Colin Firth as John "Jack" Worthing/Ernest
* Frances O'Connor as Gwendolen Fairfax
* Reese Witherspoon as Cecily Cardew
* Judi Dench as Lady Bracknell
* Tom Wilkinson as Dr Chasuble
* Anna Massey as Miss Prism
* Edward Fox as Lane
* Patrick Godfrey as Merriman
* Charles Kay as Gribsby
* Cyril Shaps as Pew Opener
* Marsha Fitzalan as Dowager

## Production

The production took place in several picturesque locations, including West Wycombe Park, where Jack's country home was depicted, with filmmakers paying £50,000 to use the stately property.
Dame Judi Dench reprised her role as Lady Bracknell for the third time in The Importance of Being Earnest, after having been cast in the 1982 National Theatre revival and the 1995 BBC Radio 4 adaptation. Dench’s daughter, actress Finty Williams, also appears in the film, playing a younger version of Lady Bracknell as a dancer.
Several unscripted moments were left in the final cut of the film due to their comedic value. One such instance occurred when Algernon slaps Jack on the rear end and kisses his cheek, surprising Colin Firth, who plays Jack. Director Oliver Parker found Firth’s stunned reaction so humorous that he chose to keep the scene in the film.
The film also includes material that had originally been written by Oscar Wilde but was later cut from the published play. These additions involve 'Ernest's' bill at the Savoy Hotel and the debt collectors arriving at Jack's country home. Though the character of the gardener, Molton, was also removed from the final version of the play, he can still be seen in the background of several scenes.

## Release

The Importance of Being Earnest grossed $8,384,929 domestically and $8,906,041 internationally, for a worldwide total of $17,290,970, against a production budget of $15 million, making it a moderate commercial success at the box-office.

## Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, as of September 2012, The Importance of Being Earnest holds a 57% approval rating, with the consensus stating, "Oliver Parker's adaptation of Wilde's classic play is breezy entertainment, helped by an impressive cast, but it also suffers from some peculiar directorial choices that ultimately dampen the film's impact." On Metacritic, the film has a rating of 73 out of 100 based on 32 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian described the film as a "bright, easy-going adaptation" but noted it lacks the sharp wit of Wilde's original play. While praising Judi Dench’s performance, Bradshaw criticized the film for softening the play’s satirical edge and relying on broader humor, which diluted its critique of Victorian society. Despite its charm and visual appeal, he concluded that the film falls short of capturing Wilde's incisive social commentary. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film 3 stars out of 4, praising the well-cast actors and their performances.

## Awards and nominations

The Importance of Being Earnest won the 2003 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists's Silver Ribbon award for Best Costume Design (for Maurizio Millenotti).
Moreover, Reese Witherspoon's performance also earned her a nomination for the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Comedy in 2002.