Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
London, England, on the eve of World War II. Guinevere Pettigrew, a strict governess who is unable to keep a job, is fired again. Lost in the hostile city, a series of fortunate circumstances lead her to meet Delysia LaFosse, a glamorous and dazzling American jazz singer whose life is a chaos ruled by indecision, a continuous battle between love and fame.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is a charming, well-acted screwball-adjacent comedy set on the eve of WWII. Frances McDormand and Amy Adams deliver genuinely warm and nuanced performances that elevate what is otherwise a fairly conventional 'odd couple' comedic premise. The period production design is attractive but the cinematography is competent rather than distinctive. The plot follows a predictable arc of personal transformation and romantic resolution with few surprises, and the ending, while satisfying, is telegraphed well in advance. Novelty is moderate — the setting and tone have a pleasant vintage quality, but the film doesn't radically distinguish itself from other light romantic comedies of its type. Acting is the clear standout, with McDormand in particular delivering a performance well above what the material strictly demands.