People love fish out of water stories. While some of these tales fall flat and bore audiences, there is plenty of good ones to experience-watching someone out of their element is entertaining to plenty, and "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" is no exception.
After yet another failed job offering, governess Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) finds herself sneaking into her next position after swiping a business card of the said employer from her supervisor, of sorts, at the employment agency.
Literally, directly upon her said arrival, Miss Pettigrew is thrust into the jazzy and hustle-and-bustle life of socialite Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams). Lafosse is juggling her aspiring goal of become a star of stage and screen with the young son of a theater executive Phil Goldman (Tom Payne) and a local songstress sensation with older sugar daddy and club owner Nick (Mark Strong).
With all of this craziness going on, Delysia finds a spot in her heart for the one person who truly loves her, the lower class man Michael (Lee Pace), who has just been released from prison. It is up to Delysia to decide: follow her superficial ambition or the love in her heart? And Miss Pettigrew is there for the ride, getting a glamorous makeover from Delysia's socialite friend Edythe Dubarry (Shirley Henderson), while attracting Edythe's fashion designer husband Joe (Ciarán Hinds).
The quasi-looniess of this film may come across as too much clutter going on, but it is held in balance by one strong element: the interaction and chemistry between McDormand and Adams, an Academy Award winner and a nominee, respectively.
Essentially, the movie's entertainment value is judged on how well they work together, and they certainly compliment each other. Adams is such an energetic and vibrant talent in Hollywood today. Following her Oscar nod for "junebug," her career has skyrocketed alongside such big-name stars and directors: Will Ferrell in "Talladega Nights;" Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in the Mike Nichols-directed "Charlie Wilson's War;" and Susan Sarandon and Patrick Dempsey in "Enchanted." Here, she gets to star alongside one of most versatile actresses, Miss McDormand.
She can play damsel-in-distress ("Darkman") to pregnant North Dakota sheriff deputy ("Fargo," her Oscar win in husband Joel Coen's film) to sci-fi rebel leader ("Æon Flux"). And no matter the quality of the movie, McDormand brings quality, talent and sophistication to the role. She does the same to Pettigrew.
"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" is a lively entertaining movie that is both lively and funny, thanks to it's terrific star attractions that will shine for more than just single day.
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