THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (U, 98mins)

Following the triumph of his retelling of An Ideal Husband, writer-director Oliver Parker turns his attention to another Oscar Wilde masterpiece.

The Importance Of Being Earnest is arguably Wilde's most entertaining play, and this new version is a gloriously frothy if lightweight confection.

The film boasts a tightly corseted, all-star cast and an abundance of pithy one-liners, set against a backdrop of late 19th century splendour and privilege.

Jack Worthing (Colin Firth) and Algernon Moncrieff (Rupert Everett) are best friends with much in common.

Both men are in the amorous pursuit of young ladies - Algernon's cousin Gwendolen (Frances O'Connor) and Jack's lustrous young ward Cecily Cardew (Reese Witherspoon) respectively - and both have invented fictitious alter-egos.

Jack is known as Earnest to his friends in the city, so he may run up huge debts, without fear of reprisals.

Meanwhile, Algernon has created a mysterious friend called Bunbury, whose ill health gives him the perfect excuse to avoid his domineering aunt Lady Bracknell (Dame Judi Dench).

A comedy of errors ensues, ensnaring the two best friends in their own web of lies and deceit.

Parker adheres closely to Wilde's play, but isn't averse to the odd stylistic flourish, including some dreamy fantasy sequences that, unfortunately, seem out of place.

He also substantially increases a romantic subplot involving Cecily's governess, Miss Prism (Anna Massey) and the local vicar, the Reverend Chasuble (Tom Wilkinson).

Thus, the two potential love matches of Wilde's play is increased to three for the film... love is all around.

Firth and Everett are at their dashing, swaggering best, but neither are stretched by their roles as fibbing bounders.

O'Connor brings a sternness and determination to her independent woman, and Witherspoon simpers to perfection with a convincing English accent.

As expected, Dench scene-steals as the imperious Lady Bracknell, underplaying the infamous handbag scene, and savouring Wilde's most famous quips: "To lose one parent, Mr Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose both looks like carelessness."

There is, of course, no swearing, no sex and no violence but Wilde still entertains.