This elegant 1920s-set romantic comedy is loosely based on one of Noël Coward's less well-known plays that was first brought to the screen by Alfred Hitchcock in 1927. This version from director Stephan Elliott (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) stars Ben Barnes as a naive young man who horrifies his upper-class mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) by returning from France with a wife (Jessica Biel) who's not only a racing driver but also (and even worse, it seems) an American. Meanwhile, his father (played by Colin Firth) seems to have other matters on his mind. The adaptation is witty and stylish, and there's a welcome dark undercurrent that offsets the more sugary moments. The film occasionally shows its stage origins, but this is still a small triumph for all involved, with Barnes and Firth giving standout performances.

A young Englishman marries a glamorous American. When he brings her home to meet the parents, she arrives like a blast from the future - blowing their entrenched British stuffiness out the window.