It’s gorgeous gossamer and as thin as Amy Adam’s luxury silk lingerie. While it hangs a tad long in places, never fails to support laughter. Miss Pettigrew is a bright ‘n’ breezy confection with zero substance.
Frances McDormand is Miss Guinevere Pettigrew, a failure as a nanny, fired by her agency when she is booted out of her latest home. Although her career is children, she has no tolerance for them, so it is an acceptable deal.
Time to find a new life.
But first, time to find something to eat.
The films set as WW2 is about to blow; it is a grim, deadly fog that’s heading for London that is kept sufficiently in the background so as not to destroy the sweet piffle we’re watching.
She’s out of cash because presumably, the help gets little compensation and her agency doesn’t want to know. She’s forced to line up at the railroad station soup kitchens; even there she can’t score even a crust of bread.
She is nevertheless able to hold her head up nigh because she is mysteriously well bred. There are no clues given to her past life or why she is, despite everything, filled with quiet confidence, high, but not too high, on the self-esteem chart.
Another desperate visit to the agency and she is able to swipe the personal card of a woman requiring help. Knowing nothing about her, Miss P. shows up at her door.
Her new charge, Delysia Lafosse, (Adams) appears to be some kind of courtesan, but turns out to be a Hollywood actress. To say she is childlike is an understatement. So, while Miss P. has her limits, she is well versed in dealing with brats.
Miss. P. observes a romantic French farce underway with unexpected lovers showing up at inopportune moments. She’s a quick study and jumps right in to bolster Lafosse’ many deceptions.
Thus begins a frenetically fun jump way up the social ladder, a last gasp before the war comes.
Adams recently starred in Enchanted and Miss Pettigrew seems the next logical step – if she wants to be typecast! However, she does have charm to spare and a wide-eyed fresh face that just makes us not mind.
We can’t pass judgement on this sweet bit of fluff, and our faith will be rewarded.
I don’t imagine its one men will long to see. It is a children’s film, minus the breezy sexy/manipulative ways of Miss Lafosse, dressed and undressed for adults.
In theatres: March 7
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