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Emily Mortimer, Stephen Campbell Moore, James McAvoy, Michael Sheen, David Tennant ... see more see more... , Fenella Woolgar , Jim Carter , Julia McKenzie , Peter O'Toole , John Mills , Bill Paterson , Nigel Planer , Nicholas LePrevost , Imelda Staunton , Angela Thorne , Margaret Tyzack , Alex Barclay , Simon McBurney , Guy Henry , Alec Newman , Ivan Marevich

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 '30... read more read more...s, 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

Flixster Users

62% liked it

6,122 ratings

Critics

65% liked it

107 critics

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Stephen Fry

Release Date: August 20, 2003

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DVD Release Date: February 8, 2005

Stats: 366 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (366)

  • RossCollinsUK
    February 5, 2011
    RossCollinsUK
    Airy-fairy dross that lacks substance.
  • neverteaseaweasel
    November 20, 2009
    neverteaseaweasel
    "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... read more 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.
  • RCCLBC
    December 23, 2008
    RCCLBC
    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 co... read morestumes 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.
  • aliceinpunderland
    August 3, 2008
    aliceinpunderland
    A devilishly delightful romp with excellent social commentary about access and excess.
  • gator681
    October 7, 2005
    gator681
    [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 for... read moretunes 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]
  • sayers1977
    March 13, 2012
    sayers1977
    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 theref... read moreore found the whole thing a bit of a frothy mix rather than a substantial work.
  • SunilJawahir
    March 14, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    Really awesome movie about partiers in the 20s
  • scrambledegg7
    January 10, 2010
    scrambledegg7
    I love Stephen Fry, and I'm also a huge fan of the cast he's pulled together for this film, but it all felt a bit uneven to me. There are some very, very funny moments in here. He knows how to draw upon the pretentious airs of the overly stuffy and overly intellectual to create h... read moreilarious dialogue. There are also some very moving scenes, such as the one where our main character starts to tire of his whirlwind life. ("Oh, there are always so many parties!" he laments to his lover.) But all these never QUITE seem to come together in the story. It's a very close call, but in the end it falls just a little flat.
  • salserabpw
    November 14, 2009
    salserabpw
    Checked this out because James McAvoy is in it. His part is just too brief and I think I missed some key moments because I couldn't understand with all the accents. Otherwise, an easy passing of 105 minutes.
  • fonduewee
    May 8, 2009
    fonduewee
    it was a good story but a little dry and not enough scene with the conflix of the main star and david

View All Bright Young Things Reviews

Critic Reviews

Stephen Hunter
July 21, 2005
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 progre... Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
October 7, 2004
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. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
September 24, 2004
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. Full Review

Joe Baltake
September 24, 2004
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Its chief strength is the obvious deep-seated affection Fry has for each sedated, hung-over soul. Full Review

Jay Boyar
September 24, 2004
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

If you yearn for a Brit fix, this is your flick. If not, think twice before checking it out. Full Review

Rick Groen
September 24, 2004
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. Full Review

Michael Booth
September 24, 2004
Michael Booth, Denver Post

For those who mourned the final episodes of Brideshead and other installments of the queen's English, Bright Young Things is a diverting evening in the British Isles. Full Review

Terry Lawson
September 24, 2004
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

In trying so hard not to take itself too seriously, Bright Young Things succeeds in being a lot of ado over nothing. Full Review

Colin Covert
September 23, 2004
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Sizzles with Jazz Age energy, sparkles with champagne wit and roars along like a Grand Prix race car. Full Review

Ty Burr
September 17, 2004
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Busy, unfocused, yet still acridly funny and moving. Full Review

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  • i played bridget jones' father, i was the owner of the moulin rouge, and i was a dirty gambler in bright young things. who am i?  Answer »
  • Name the Scottish Actor from the characters he has played Simon Balcairn in Bright Young Things, Dr. Nicholas Garrigan in The Last King Of Scotland, Mr. Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia   Answer »
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