Collegiate Times

A day in the life of hapless British nanny Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) is no easy task.

Her frizzy brown hair and frayed threads cost her job after job, but in the exceptionally light and immensely satisfying "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day," the modest governess can do no wrong.

The first real 24 hours Miss Pettigrew has enjoyed in a long time begin when, on a whim, she steals a job as a "social secretary" after losing her job as a child's caretaker. This burst of spontaneity is something her life has clearly lacked for many years, and only after being pushed to the absolute penniless edge can she seize a life she'd long forgotten. This assumed out-of-character action lands her on the penthouse doorstep of Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams), a girl with firecracker red hair and energy to match. The revolving door on Delysia's flat never stops spinning as she attempts a juggling act of three lovers, and she is always eager for advice from Miss Pettigrew on topics the homely nanny has never had to think about.

The established veteran McDormand and the breakthrough talent of Adams steal the spotlight in this between-the-wars London comedy. Adams plays a version of her overwhelmingly enthusiastic characters of "Junebug" and "Enchanted," but here shows a touch of depth with her Pittsburgh past and the ambition-driven manipulation of her suitors. McDormand flashes her subtle blend of brilliantly subdued comedy and heartwarming drama once again, but perhaps fades too much into the background and is overtaken by the unceasing energy of Adams.

The three suitors, Nick, a nightclub owner, Phil, a star of the theater, and Michael, a club pianist, represent money, ambition and love to Delysia. Through Nick she's reached socialite status, which helps her in her dream to be a star of the stage and screen. It also helps her meet Phil. Michael is the only one who can't help her; in fact he can barely support himself. He's the only one she isn't somehow dependent on, but she can't shake him.

Period pieces always bring out the best in the imagination of art directors, and even 1930s Britain is no exception. The women are clearly women, as Adams wraps her undressed body in the gentle folds of a fur coat that seems like it could go on forever, but viewers will find to their pleasure that it does not. The apartments and nightclubs are all constructed of glitz and glamour and wrap the characters in the lavish world Delysia dares to give up. There are times when Delysia's dress, or an after-bath lack thereof, seem scandalously anachronistic and revealing, but I suppose period pieces have to be spiced up for desensitized audiences of the 21st century.

The most surprising thing about this charming romantic comedy is its possession of a more poignant comment on the war than any of the agenda-serving trash we've seen in the past couple years. Delysia's life takes the center stage in the film, as I'm sure it would on any other day. Life here is consumed by love and excess, and the world is simply a distraction. Inserted into this dream-like reality are pre-World War II fears, subtly handled by the tinkling chimes of a shaking chandelier and the terrifying flicker of light bulbs as English planes roar overhead. The war is there, and it refuses to be ignored. Pettigrew has been through it once before, and her typically cheery gaze turns ominous as she watches the planes fly by.

It's nice that Miss Pettigrew can have her day, but telling the story in a 24-hour time frame dilutes it horribly and keeps it from something great. The story never promises any surprises, and that's fine, but the paper-thin plot, and cardboard cut out characters are only saved by wonderful performances from leading ladies Adams and McDormand. This one day in London feels cramped in terms of a day's action, but then kind of flat in terms of resolutions.

"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" is a carefree romp through high society in pre-World War II London. It is simply a refreshing film, an after dinner mint of romantic comedies, without baggage bogging down its optimism. The film's running joke is that the poor Miss Pettigrew cannot find a bite to eat, but the film will leave audiences thoroughly satisfied.