An Ideal Husband

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United Kingdom, France, USA • 1999
Rated PG-13 • 1h37
Director Oliver Parker
Starring Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver, Rupert Everett, Julianne Moore
Genre Drama, Comedy, Romance
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Sir Robert Chiltern is a successful Government minister, well-off and with a loving wife. All this is threatened when his ex wife, Laura Cheveley appears with evidence of a past misdeed. Sir Robert seeks advice from his bachelor friend, Lord Goring, which proves to further complicate things in this adaption of Oscar Wilde's play.

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Village Voice by Amy Taubin

His film is hardly memorable, but it's amusing enough for two hours, and it never panders or cloys.

New Times (L.A.) by Bill Gallo

The political, social, and linguistic adjustments Parker makes to this hugely entertaining Husband give it fresh relevance without betraying the original.

Slate by David Edelstein

The movie is diverting enough -- it's good fun -- but much of the genius is gone with the wind.

Variety by Derek Elley

Shines like a freshly minted coin in Oliver Parker's adaptation.

San Francisco Chronicle by Edward Guthmann

Director- writer Oliver Parker saps much of the juice from Wilde, slows the pace and directs his actors in an inappropriately naturalistic style.

Film.com by Elizabeth Weitzman

It still sounds pretty fresh: politicians scratching backs, loose ladies threatening to talk, careers balanced tremulously on the line

Time by Richard Corliss

An ideal play is degraded into an indolent film

Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert

The two leading men, Northam and Everett, are smooth and charming.

Film Threat by Ron Wells

The film is not without its problems, some inherent to Wilde's original play.

Salon by Stephanie Zacharek

It all seems calculated to churn up excitement, a promise that there's lots of dazzle, glamour and intrigue to come. An Ideal Husband actually does deliver all those things, but mostly in a pleasurably understated way -- no need for the noisy signals.

An Ideal Husband

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