Director Oliver Parker (AN IDEAL HUSBAND, OTHELLO) is establishing a tremendously impressive track record of adapting acknowledged stage classics for the silver screen and achieving thoroughly satisfying results. In his latest literary translation, Parker is reunited with his AN IDEAL HUSBAND star Rupert Everett (GOSFORD PARK) as well as a sterling roster of top acting talent, all perfectly cast in this luminous rendition of Oscar Wilde's classic comedy of manners.

Two dashing young aristocrats in 1890's England decide to embellish the details of their personal lives in order to more easily court the women they have set their sights on. Jack Worthing (Colin Firth, BRIDGET JONES' DIARY) has invented a brother named Earnest in order to have an excuse to leave the country and visit the ravishing Gwendolyn Fairfax (Frances O'Connor, MANSFIELD PARK). Algernon Montcrieff (Everett) decides to take the name Ernest when visiting Worthing's beautiful young ward, Cecily (Reese Witherspoon, LEGALLY BLOND), because of her peculiar childhood fascination with men named Earnest.

When the two couples mistakenly stay together at Worthing's sprawling country manor, the gentlemen are forced to create even further deceptions, lest their original lie be discovered and spoil their romantic pursuits.

With British acting legends Judi Dench (IRIS) and Tom Wilkinson (IN THE BEDROOM) rounding out the already stellar cast, Wilde's wicked wordplay has never sounded better.

"A delightful alternative to most current multiplex fare, which wouldn't recognize a juicy 'bon mot' if it tripped over one in the aisle." Boston Globe