"B-" Rating by Robert W. Hammerle

The good news about "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" is that it's an above average romantic farce reminiscent of the screwball comedies made in the 1940's starring Carole Lombard and Jean Arthur. The bad news is that it's not the 1940's anymore.

Set in London on the eve of World War II, the completely disarming Amy Adams ["Enchanted" (2007); "Charlie Wilson's War" (2007); Talladega Nights" (2006) and "Junebug" (2005)] stars as a young actress simultaneously juggling three male suitors as she tries to sleep her way to wealth and stardom. Taking place over the course of one day, the incomparable Frances McDormand plays a dowdy, unemployed Vickers's daughter who in desperation cons her way into Ms. Adams' employment as her new social secretary.

Fluffy, lightweight and never truly serious, the movie rides on the considerable charms of Ms. Adams and Ms. McDormand. No actress does frumpy and dowdy better than the latter, while Ms. Adams has a sweet earnestness that was so utterly enchanting in last year's "Enchanted." Quite frankly, I can't think of another actress who could simultaneously sleep with three men and yet emerge so unsoiled in the process.

Mention must be made of the wonderful Ciaran Hinds, who appears as a recognized designer of lingerie while ultimately being attracted to Ms. McDormand. While not widely known, Mr. Hinds is proving to be one of the more reliable actors in Hollywood. Think of his role as Julius Caesar in HBO's Miniseries "Rome" (2005); he was one of the Israeli hit team in Steven Spielberg's moving "Munich" (2005); and he also appears as Ryan Phillippe's distraught and supportive father in this year's "Stop-Loss." He is truly a fine actor, not to mention bringing instant credibility to any role.

Like a lovely pastry that is mostly air inside, "Miss Pettigrew" is far too lightweight to be dramatically satisfying. Additionally, one of my strongest pet peeves is any movie that resorts to the on-screen audience applauding the central characters at the end of a film. Not only is this transparently manipulative, but a director that resorts to this sad theatrical device clearly does not trust his material to move the audience on its own. I have usually found it as offensive as a laugh track during a TV sitcom. Sadly, "Miss Pettigrew" did itself a disservice by resorting to just such a sad scene.

Nevertheless, this movie has an earnestness and sincerity that makes it difficult to dismiss out of hand. The chemistry between Ms. Adams and Ms. McDormand is not only genuine, but it is clear they had a wonderful time making this movie. It is a tribute to their acting skills that "Miss Pettigrew," while certainly less than memorable, was a rather enjoyable light romp.