…and what a day it is when Miss Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) finds herself fired from her job before (long story short) ending up in an elegant London flat, where she happens upon American Actress and singer, Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams) running around like a chicken with her head cut-off. That’s because she’s in bed with Phillip (Tom Payne) the theater director’s son able to score her the leading role. The problem is their sleeping in the bed of Nick (Mark Strong) who owns the wealthy flat, not to mention the nightclub where she performs. And let’s not forget Michael (Lee Pace) the penniless musician we root for, though the ditzy Lafosse is too much a narcissistic actress to care about real love. And so the story goes, when Miss Pettigrew teaches her a thing or two about what really matters in their world ruled by greed and gossip, set against a backdrop of world war air raids. Adams is her usual ball-of-energy-screwball-one-dimensional self – think “Enchanted” for grownups – in this energized comedy with a touch of pure delight and utter insanity. The Big Band era of the storyline coupled with the snappy performances, make Miss Pettigrew a delightful escape. And the ultimate love story – not that of Michael and Delysia Lafosse – will surprise you. It’s reminiscent of a certain nun turned governess in “The Sound of Music” who ends up with the Captain. Only this time its vagabond turned social secretary that may just end up with the millionaire sock designer. And that’s where the movie finds its heart and its soul, not to mention an audience full of tears. Including the men. For anybody who ever thought money meant more than love, think again. Four tiaras
