Avis Metacritic

Shines like a freshly minted coin in Oliver Parker's adaptation.

It all seems calculated to churn up excitement, a promise that there's lots of dazzle, glamour and intrigue to come. An Ideal Husband actually does deliver all those things, but mostly in a pleasurably understated way -- no need for the noisy signals.

It still sounds pretty fresh: politicians scratching backs, loose ladies threatening to talk, careers balanced tremulously on the line

The political, social, and linguistic adjustments Parker makes to this hugely entertaining Husband give it fresh relevance without betraying the original.

The two leading men, Northam and Everett, are smooth and charming.

The film is not without its problems, some inherent to Wilde's original play.

His film is hardly memorable, but it's amusing enough for two hours, and it never panders or cloys.

The movie is diverting enough -- it's good fun -- but much of the genius is gone with the wind.

An ideal play is degraded into an indolent film

Director- writer Oliver Parker saps much of the juice from Wilde, slows the pace and directs his actors in an inappropriately naturalistic style.