Movie Review: A Good Woman (2004)

Genre: Romantic Dramedy  

Director: Mike Barker  

Starring: Helen Hunt, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Wilkinson  

Running Time: 93 minutes  

Synopsis: In New York City, professional mistress Mrs. Erlynne (Helen Hunt) runs out of other-women's-husbands willing to fund her lifestyle. She relocates to Amalfi in Italy, and joins a wealthy and gossipy English community including newlyweds Meg and Robert Windermere (Scarlett Johansson and Mark Umbers). The dashing Lord Darlington (Stephen Campbell Moore) intends to seduce Meg, and finds an opening when Mrs. Erlynne occupies Robert's attention. Meanwhile, the exceptionally rich and many-times-divorced Tuppy (Tom Wilkinson) believes he can finally find happiness with Mrs. Erlynne.

What Works Well: This adaptation of Oscar Wilde's 1892 play Lady Windermere's Fan benefits from picturesque Italian locations occupied by the idle rich, and attractive 1930s-era sets, costumes, hairstyles, and make-up. Tom Wilkinson as Tuppy delivers a wistful performance as a soft-at-heart man who has everything except a worthy life companion. Director Mike Barker hustles events along at a brisk pace, and the central twist adds zest.

What Does Not Work As Well: The plot only works with a base level of across-the-board obtuse behaviour. Neither Helen Hunt nor Scarlett Johansson appear fully comfortable in their roles, and apart from Wilkinson, the other male actors mechanically go through the motions. Delivered by a hovering Greek chorus of secondary gossipers, the script is over-burdened with Wilde's witticisms, with most landing as self-satisfied clutter.

Key Quote:

Mrs. Erlynne: If we're always guided by other people's thoughts, what's the point of having our own?

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