The Importance Of Being Wild Analysis

When Films Get Wilde
A look back on the 2002 adaptation of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Wild.

At the turn of the 20th century, Oscar Wilde's star flickered out in the French Country side leaving one last bit of witticism to tide the world over until his plays would come back into popularity; or more aptly society stopped putting a block on his works. The overall sum of his 46 years mostly resides in the unique way he could turn a phrase and write entertaining stories where all the action comes from people talking; in this he was a genius, arguably the best.
Once his plays were finally brought back into regular circulation and repertoires, they became beloved and challenging pieces for theatre companies. While comedy abounds throughout

The story revolves around a man named Jack who has a city persona, Earnest, that wishes to marry a beautiful young lady named Gwendolen whom is the cousin of his friend Algernon. The main conflict comes from Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen's mother, telling Jack that if he cannot figure out who his parents were, as he is an adopted son of a wealthy man, then the two cannot marry. Within this plot lies the fact that Jack's name is not Earnest, and that Algernon wants to marry Jack's adopted-niece Cecily. The story falls into the Well-Made Play category of intrigue, miscommunications, love, and last-minute notations that spin the story towards its unknowable, yet perfectly happy

In the end, Jack/Earnest discovers that he is Algernon's older brother, but was unable to be rechristened Earnest for Gwendolen. When Lady Bracknell tells Jack he is named after his father, who was a military general, Jack looks into what his father's name was. In the play Jack's name is really Earnest, but the film twists this so that Jack/Earnest discovers his name is truly Jack. So, what does he do? Jack/Earnest lies and says his name is Earnest and lets no one look at the military registry where his real name lies.
This shift adds a whole new layer onto the last line "I've now realized for the first time in my life the vital importance of Being Earnest." It is an interesting loop-hole the movie throws at viewers that would be completely unexpected. The turn of events does not change the outcome of the story however, and only those who know of the play will recognize this turn of events. It acts as a refreshing reveal to those who may have already checked out knowing what is to happen.
The story of Being Earnest has had plenty of productions on stage and on screen. The latest one now fifteen-years old was a great addition with plenty of unique add-ins from Parker. While some of Parkers choices are questionable at best, they are at least interesting and do nothing to really hinder the film and seem only to take the story to new levels of