Easy Virtue

This 2008 remake of the 1928 classic is about a young Englishman who marries a glamorous American. When he brings her home to meet the parents, she arrives like a blast from the future - blowing their entrenched British stuffiness out the window.

Even though the movie is based as a comedy, the American, Laurita Finton (Jessica Biel), has a dark secret she keeps from all - even her new husband, John Whittaker (Ben Barnes).

The movie starts with young John bringing home his surprise wife to his families "cottage" in England after marring in France. Aw, Young and in love! But, John's family doesn't like Laurita, a girl with an "easy virtue".

This new young American is brass, direct, confident, and can drive - which catches everyone by surprise. My favorite line from the whole movie:

"Do you have to be so loud?"

"Of course I do, I'm American."

The family (with exception to the father played by Colin Firth) never accepts Laurita and eventually John's mother (played by Kristin Scott Thomas) finds out about the shadows in Laurita's past and shares her secret with everyone.

The secret being that Laurita Filton was named as the main correspondent in a scandalous murder case involving her first husband in Detroit. In the end, she's claimed innocent by the courts.

Yet, Laurita's world is destroyed so she decides to leave, changing her identity and starting a new life. She escapes to France to rebuild her life where she meets rich John Whittaker.

She feels her first marriage took her youth and now in her second, she's taking it from another - John. What I enjoy about her strong character is that she's honest about her actions and remains true to herself, thus leaving John in the end.

The real kicker is you really enjoy Laurita throughout the whole movie. I never saw her a an "easy virtue", she was just fun and easygoing - except at the end when....surprise surprise....she ends up taking off with the father after leaving the son. Those scandalous Americans!

I have to say, Jessica Biel was amazing! I love the blond hair style on her too. The music was so much fun as well. It was modern hits remade into 1920 jazz band style songs - fantastic. If you interested, check out the movie here! Enjoy!