Based on the 1938 novel by Winifred Watson and set in 1939 London, MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY’s film title reveals the main plot.  Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (Oscar Winner Frances McDormand) gets a beauty make-over, lives for the day and finds true love. 

The full story?  After getting unjustifiably fired, governess Miss Pettigrew intercepts a job assignment at the agency and finds work as a social secretary for American singer and actress, Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams).  With the span of a few hours, Guinevere romances successful designer, Joe (Ciaran Hinds) while sorting out Delysia’s love life with rough diamond, Michael (Lee Pace).  This is the type of story that was ahead of its time (the 30’s) centering on the issues of feminine independence and social standing.  The script by David Magee (FINDING NEVERLAND) and Simon Beaufoy (THE FULL MONTY) changes the book a bit – in it Miss Pettigrew was sent to the wrong address) - but the gist of the book is left unaltered.

Filmed at Ealing Studios and in and around London, certain sites like the Savoy Hotel at Charing Cross will be recognizable by those who know London.

For a feel good movie full of dance, colour and happy stuff, Nalluri’s (THE CROW: SALVATION) film is pretty bland, clichéd and ordinary.  Director Bharat Nalluri concentrates too much on the details like sets, props and atmosphere rather than the events on hand.  Check Michael’s fight scene which is one of the slowest I have witnessed this year.  McDormand was fantastic in FARGO but she lacks the charisma to hold the role of a transformed woman.  For one she should smile more.  The film plods along, with too little dialogue and incidents for the entire running length.  The audience should have felt really good for such a themed movie but all this reviewer felt is happy but only because of being relieved that the film was finally over.