Bright Young Things (2003)

65% of critics liked it
(107 reviews)
62% of users liked it
(6,124 ratings)

British writer/actor Stephen Fry makes his feature-film debut with the witty, sophisticated comedy Bright Young Things, adapted from Evelyn Waugh's 1930 novel Vile Bodies. Set in London during the '30s, this stylish period film follows an ensemble cast of well-dressed and highly literate partygoers.… More British writer/actor Stephen Fry makes his feature-film debut with the witty, sophisticated comedy Bright Young Things, adapted from Evelyn Waugh's 1930 novel Vile Bodies. Set in London during the '30s, this stylish period film follows an ensemble cast of well-dressed and highly literate partygoers. Aspiring writer Adam Fenwick-Symes (stage actor Stephen Campbell Moore) loses the manuscript of his first novel when traveling through customs. He then sets out to raise enough money to marry his sweetheart, Nina Blount (Emily Mortimer), the daughter of a colonel (Peter O'Toole). All in the name of love, Adam seeks funding through a constant stream of parties, meetings, and conversations with eccentric acquaintances. Cameo appearances are made by the likes of Dan Aykroyd, Simon Callow, and Stockard Channing. Bright Young Things was shown at the 2003 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Stephen Fry
Written By: Stephen Fry
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 20, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Feb 8, 2005
Studio: ThinkFilm

Critic Reviews

Stephen Hunter, Houston Chronicle
One conceit of writer-director Stephen Fry is to dramatize parties as knots of chaos, social hurricanes that spill across the landscape this way and that, ruining lives, eating time, preventing progress of any kind.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Though Fry's movie has plenty of nasty wit, it lacks the sheer luxurious malice of Waugh's book. Fry is acerbic; Waugh is lethal.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Suffers from feeling like it's just pretending to be good when it's obviously much, much happier being bad. But when it's bad, it's very, very good.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Its chief strength is the obvious deep-seated affection Fry has for each sedated, hung-over soul.
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
If you yearn for a Brit fix, this is your flick. If not, think twice before checking it out.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Since no one is playing a rounded character -- just pawns in Waugh's linguistic 'exercise' -- the performances are necessarily mere snapshots haphazardly crammed into a chaotic album.
Prairie Miller, NY Rock
Fry seems to believe there's nothing that would fulfill audiences more than to vicariously tag along on screen after fictionalized celebrity types from another time.
Jane Howdle, Empire Magazine
Though it falls short of Fry's best work in other fields, this is a sound first feature.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The wit never comes through the art deco settings.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
If a movie can draw this kind of talent for mostly miniscule roles, how can you go wrong?
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The 'wit' is leaden and unfunny; the narrative's progress ungainly; the direction stolid.
Daniel Wible, Film Threat
The film is a breezy and likable enough entertainment, especially for those of us unfamiliar with Waugh's original.
Scott Nash, Three Movie Buffs
It is in the humorous moments that the movie really hits its stride, with the supporting cast providing many of the laughs.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
The uninitiated are hereby warned: Bright Young Things has an exclusionary timbre. Unlike Hollywood films it never slows down to explain a joke or clarify an allusion.
Dan Devine, PopMatters
Fry often seems unsure of whether he wants to stress satire or drama, and while a good film can be both, this film is neither.
Glenn Kenny, Premiere Magazine
A great deal of fun for its first two-thirds.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
Fry seems to believe there's nothing that would fulfill audiences more than to vicariously tag along on screen after fictionalized celebrity types from another time.
Anthony Del Valle, Las Vegas Mercury
Memorable characters come and go so often and so franticaly that you wonder if World War II might have been merely the explosion of England's fast pulse.
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)
Fry directs his performers with real sensitivity; as the film moves along it becomes a showcase for some really wonderful ensemble acting.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Ross C

Airy-fairy dross that lacks substance.
Jake .

"Bright, young people. That's what they call you. Well, I guess one of out three isn't bad." Bright Young Things is one of the lightest things I've seen in quite a while. It is not serious at all, nor does it take itself seriously. Its flinty, funny, and… More
"Bright, young people. That's what they call you. Well, I guess one of out three isn't bad." Bright Young Things is one of the lightest things I've seen in quite a while. It is not serious at all, nor does it take itself seriously. Its flinty, funny, and irreverent. I was curious to see how Stephen Fry would in the director's chair, and he is really rather good. Plus, there is an incredible lineup; with James McAvoy, David Tennant, Jim Broadbent, Michael Sheen, and so many others. I really would never want to watch this again, but it really is great fun to watch once.
Robert C

I went into this knowing that it would be difficult to capture the brilliance of "Vile Bodies", which is one of my favorite novels. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised (and thoroughly amused) at how well Mr. Fry captured the feel of the book. The set designs… More
I went into this knowing that it would be difficult to capture the brilliance of "Vile Bodies", which is one of my favorite novels. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised (and thoroughly amused) at how well Mr. Fry captured the feel of the book. The set designs and costumes are wonderful, the cast is amazing and the writing (al a Waugh) is brilliant and clever. I was even impressed by Dan Aykroyd who is not normally a "draw" for me.
Alice S

A devilishly delightful romp with excellent social commentary about access and excess.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Bright Young Things" takes place in England in the 1930's. Adam(Stephen Campbell Moore) is an aspiring writer with a completed novel on his way back from abroad but unfortunately it is confiscated by customs leaving him in debt to his publisher.… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Bright Young Things" takes place in England in the 1930's. Adam(Stephen Campbell Moore) is an aspiring writer with a completed novel on his way back from abroad but unfortunately it is confiscated by customs leaving him in debt to his publisher. Adam's fortunes changing on a nearly minute-by-minute basis rather complicates his possible engagement to Nina(Emily Mortimer). In the midst of this, there is simply tons of socializing and partygoing to do with their friends and acquaintances.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]There are colorful cameos from many notoble actors here including Jim Carter, Stockard Channing, Richard E. Grant(as a priest!), Simon Callow, Jim Broadbent, BIll Paterson, Dan Aykroyd, and Peter O'Toole with the best one by Imelda Staunton. [/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Stephen Fry adapted Evelyn Waugh's novel, "Vile Bodies" and directed with a breezy, fun style. There is a serious underside to all the partygoing and carousing but why shouldn't the young characters live life to the fullest when you consider what is just on the horizon?[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font]
David S

A nicely directed first feature from Fry (although you suspect he's thrown a lot of unneccesary clutter in there too) but your enjoyment of the film will depend on how much you can actually stand the characters. I admired the performances but didn't take to any of them and… More
A nicely directed first feature from Fry (although you suspect he's thrown a lot of unneccesary clutter in there too) but your enjoyment of the film will depend on how much you can actually stand the characters. I admired the performances but didn't take to any of them and therefore found the whole thing a bit of a frothy mix rather than a substantial work.
Sunil J

Really awesome movie about partiers in the 20s