User reviews

The only levels on which this adaptation succeeds is that it opens the play up so it feels less theatrical. However the new script on retains only a scattering of the Noel Coward dialogue and the new stuff makes all the characters unlikable and tedious. They've even made Madame Arcati's character far less quirky and quite bland. Can't image who the makers think this will appeal to. Traditional Coward fans will hate it and it has nothing to recommend it to anyone else.

Any time we see a movie, we have to suspend disbelief in order to get into the fictional world of a film (that's not a documentary). The huge problem with Blithe Spirit is that much of it was so unbelievable as to make it almost impossible to suspend disbelief and therefore impossible to watch.

Basically, the main theme of this version of Noel Coward's play, is that after the main male character's deceased ex-wife is summoned forth from a medium who's supposed to be a fraud (Judi Dench), said deceased ex-wife sets out to get between her former husband and his now (living) wife. For me, the big problem here was that the husband, a crime-writer, acts in such a stupid and irrational way that the whole film just seems ridiculous. Plus, the former wife, played to the hilt by Leslie Mann, was a stereotype of the vengeful scorned wife, even though anyone who is rational would recognize that that's not what she really was.

Specifically, once he has "seen" the ghost of his former wife and realizes others don't see her, he should have altered his behavior accordingly. Instead he keeps repeating the same moronic behavior over and over which just served to make me angry. Did the director and/or scriptwriter really think an audience would go for this?

Despite this major flaw, the film was visually engaging and busy enough to keep me watching despite my annoyance.

To the people who say 'it's not that bad' or 'I have no feelings about the 1945 version', that's fine, enjoy a new movie, my complaint is that why do studios keep rewriting, changing & ruining classics - JUST WRITE SOMETHING NEW!!!

The original version is perfection & an utter joy.

This new version is a total mess, some of the casting isn't great either; it changes parts of the story in such an unnecessary way that they may as well just have WRITTEN SOMETHING NEW, do you get the idea?!

The majority of modern audiences will have no knowledge of the original & the people who do, would hate any changes, so you're making nobody happy, maybe WRITE SOMETHING NEW???

If you liked the stage play then I would imagine you would have a few issues with this film, however if you are not aware of the play or the 1945 film based upon the play then you will probably like this version. I never really liked the original film so not that emotional about comparing the two but many prefer the first attempt.

Does this capture Noel Cowards wit, not really but that maybe no bad thing.

Enjoy it for what it is, a simple story with a lacklustre ending to while away some time.

Blithe Sprit

So many reviews on here fail to just get it, this play/farce was written by Noel Coward, in 1941 as an antidote to WW2 and presented on the West End stage. Noel Coward very much in the style of Oscar Wilde writes light whimsical repartee between the characters and it really is a celebration of language.

This movie, set in the 1937, just does not tick the boxes that light up modern audiences. This is a most unfair way to judge it, the plot was well executed, the acting crisp, with a light touch delivery was really quite splendid.

It your looking for a car chase, criminal masterminds and superheroes in spandex look elsewhere.

I'm giving this a jolly well done 7

Not a patch on the 1945 version I'm afraid. Even the wonderful Judi Dench can't match Margaret Rutherford as Madame Arcati and sadly Dan Stevens is nowhere near as sauve as Rex Harrison. Elvira seems quite horrible as opposed to mischievous. A case of style over substance.

I have just watched this remake and thoroughly enjoyed a good romp. Please don't harp on about the original & how good it was. Enjoy the cast hamming it up ( no bad thing for a comedy) and great period sets. Loved it!

Dreadful remake without any of the charm of the original. The cast are usually fantastic but are lost in this farce. Awful ending, wooden script....Avoid

It would be wrong to simply recreate the original film/play and copy the excellent performance of Margaret Rutherford and I'm delighted that this film does not. It takes the premise of Noel Coward's and, with tongue firmly planted in its cheek, improves upon it immensely.

The characters are all fleshed out far more than in the original. For example, Ruth in the play and original film is dull, boring and flat. Isla Fisher brings a more believable portrayal and relishes the character. Judi Dench's Madame Arcarti is less chaotic than Rutherford but equally enjoyable. Leslie Mann's Elvira brings true threat born from jealousy but keeps it within the realms of the comedic nature of the film

Yes, it's a farce and it's supposed to be. No, this is nothing like the original, but what would be the point? Both versions have their merits and can be enjoyed equally.

I have never seen the original play or movie, so I'm not making a comparison. I think the main problem of this movie is that it lacks in rhythm. It felt too long despite being only an hour and a half. However, I still had a good time watching it. There are some true laugh-out-loud moments and everyone gives a good comedic performance. Also, the costumes and sets are gorgeous. Apparently, there have been a lot of changes from the original story, but I thought this story was good. My rhythm issue came more from some of the dialogue and the editing, I think. You won't be wasting your time watching it, but don't expect a masterpiece.

Huge disappointment. The cinema room was half full, only one or two viewers chuckled once or twice during the entire film. It's dull and devoid of real fun, I even wonder if this film should be described as comedy.

I didn't laugh even once. It wasn't even a dark comedy. There simply weren't any jokes in it. Like, none. The production value is top notch and the acting is pretty good but that's about all there is to it. The story is quite boring actually. Nothing original. Judy Dench is great of course.

This version did not keep any of the coward humour or elegance his works were known for . I've seen various adaptations of this text but this went too far away from that

I enjoyed it. I saw the original a couple of times over the years and it's no better than this effort. Fun movie.

Overall, this was a cute movie. I haven't seen the original, so as a first time watcher, I'm genuinely confused. Charles wasn't a bad guy. He didn't ask for any of this. The way it ended left me with so many questions! And Madame A, that was highly anticlimactic.

I found this rather boring and childish (or slapstick) it is like stage play on film.. just couldn't get into the characters, or the sheer buffoonery of the play. I have not seen the earlier "versions" of this, but they must be better than this! Waste of fine talent......

I thought it was going to be a stuffy movie, but it turned out quite watchable. I had to pause the movie where the husband first meets with his wife's father and her father ends up punching him because I couldn't stop laughing. The rest of the movie never quite reaches that level of comedy again but stays interesting and unpredictable (assuming no reference point to a classic recreation.)

How can you take a great script and simply ruin it? No sense of what makes comedy... Like a college project to take a great comedy and turn it into a bad TV movie (with soap tinges). Coward would scream 'ignorant amateurs.' Love the sets and the house.

Whilst I love previous theatre and film versions, this was delightful. Loved Dan embodying the hapless writer! Great cast, all did a superb job. What a beautiful art deco style home location that gave an authenticity to the ambience. Breathtaking, gentle humour, detailed and high quality movie.

I adore Noel Coward. I have performed in and directed works by Noel Coward and I love the biting wit and crackling dialogue. Had they done this as a straight-on version of the play, I would have really enjoyed this cast in that play. This, however, could easily have had the heading "suggested by the works of Noel Coward". It took the basic premise, smoothed out some of the period humor and added a bunch of unneccessary updates. As a Noel Coward piece, it's basically low-rent Cliffs Notes. However, as a quirky comedy that involves ghosts and a less-than-capable medium, it doesn't suck. The cast is amusing, and Leslie Mann was designed to play characters in this period. She could be a Carole Lombard for a new generation. I agree with several reviewers that Dame Judi Dench was terribly underused. Her Madame Arcadi was not the delicious character Coward wrote. It's not art, and it sure as heck isn't Noel Coward. But it was fun, a nice way to spend an evening and a visual treat for costumes, hair and makeup. And honestly, who doesn't love Leslie Mann in anything close to a screwball comedy? There were lots of added plot points that were underdeveloped to the point of "why bother?"(Garden show?) but as filler they didn't detract much. The ending seemed like someone saw a clock and decided it was time to finish it off. Watch the Rex Harrison version of you want to experience Noel Coward's artistry. Watch this to see pretty people in pretty clothes doing silly stuff.

I love Noel Coward and Judi Dench and have found Dan Stevens appealing, so I rushed off to the drive-in to see the world premiere. It was bad. Both the stage and film versions I've seen of this before had me rolling in the aisles, but I laughed twice seeing this film. The pace was slow and Coward should be fast. They gave Judi Dench dreary lines and a dreary plotline. Why, when she's such a gifted comedian? I didn't appreciate the modern touches. The whole thing annoyed me no end. We watched the trailer for the old movie version and laughed more at it than at this whole movie. We plan to stream the old movie soon.

So much more could have been done with this. Some characters were poorly cast. It was underwhelming. The concept is good but it missed the mark in my opinion.