Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day Review (2008) – A Whimsical, Glamorous, and Surprisingly Grounded Tale of Second Chances, Silliness, and Finding Your Place!

As we wobble through yet another chapter of survival, exhaustion, and trying to hold ourselves together in a world that keeps asking too much, we potatoes found ourselves craving a story that whispers: it’s okay to be overlooked… and it’s okay to want more. Enter Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)—a whirlwind of feathers, chaos, and quiet longing, all wrapped into one strange, charming little film.

Before we dive into Miss Pettigrew, a soft heads-up: This film is a fast-paced comedy with themes of classism, survival, and societal roles. It's mostly lighthearted, but there’s an undercurrent of desperation and heartbreak that might catch some viewers off guard. Please approach with care, especially if stories about hunger, instability, or being chronically overlooked hit close to home.

We will try to avoid spoilers, but please be aware that there will likely be some in this review, so read with caution and a glass of something sparkly!

We open on Miss Pettigrew (Frances McDormand), bundled in a modest coat and hat, being unceremoniously dismissed from her job yet again. “I’m owed a week’s wages!”

From here we see Miss Pettigrew walk the cold streets of London carrying a suitcase with her only belongings. As she is walking she bumps into a random man, dropping her suitcase which causes it to burst open spilling out her belongings onto the street.

The man is apologetic, but he makes Miss Pettigrew incredibly nervous…particularly once he lets it slip that he spent the night in jail. Frantic Miss Pettigrew opts to run away leaving her clothing behind! “Sorry!”

Later, Miss Pettigrew is attempting to get a meal from a soup kitchen. As she is trying to eat…her food gets knocked out of her hands hitting the floor with a sad clatter. Miss Pettigrew has not eaten all day…and it appears she will not be at all.

No money. No food. No options. She goes back to the employment agency the next morning hoping to find another position as quickly as possible. Her boss sits with her and lists out all of the reasons that Miss Pettigrew has been let go from all of her previous positions. We potatoes know how tough the job market can be even now, and for someone like Miss Pettigrew back then—with so few options—it must have felt downright impossible.

Women back then had only a small handful of choices when it came to work. While it is clear to us after hearing the list, that maybe Miss Pettigrew is not cut out to be a governess, at the same time though…what other choices does she truly have? Not every woman is good with children simply because they are a woman, and yet women were and are expected to be anyway. This is a silly and sexist notion but we digress!

Miss Pettigrew gently asks for any opportunity, but her boss is not going to help, “I’m afraid we have nothing suitable for you at the moment.” Desperate she overhears a message meant for a coworker, and makes an extremely rash decision. One little lie... one little white lie lands her on the doorstep of a woman who is her exact opposite in every way! Miss Pettigrew is going to try on being a social secretary for the vivacious, and dazzling Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams).

Delysia is an absolute delight and a riot! She is a whirlwind in a silk robe and heels! A nightclub singer with three lovers, too many secrets, and a head full of dreams and champagne bubbles. She’s juggling a wealthy older man with a penthouse, a theater producer who can give her the lead role, and a sweet pianist who just wants her to sing for love, not status. It’s a lot. It’s overwhelming. And she needs help!

Enter Miss Pettigrew! A woman whose rigidity, and strictness has done her more harm than good, suddenly thrust into a world of silk gowns, wildly inappropriate conversations and companions!

Hence our day truly begins and we potatoes loved the clash! And the eventual connection between these two women! Delysia and Miss Pettigrew may seem like opposites, but they’re both trapped by roles they never really chose. Both are running from poverty, and invisibility. They are just going about it in different ways. Watching them prop each other up, and stumble through society’s rules together is entertaining, fun and deeply rewarding.

And can we potatoes just say…Frances McDormand? Fantastic! Chef’s kiss! She brings so much depth to Miss Pettigrew! Beneath the stiff posture and clipped tones is a woman who’s been left behind, passed over, and denied softness. Her awkwardness, her resistance to the opulence around her, it’s not just about manners. It’s fear. It’s survival. And the way she blossoms (with some much-needed champagne) is just… so good.

There’s romance too, of course! The gentle and kind Joe (Ciarán Hinds), a handsome fashion designer with his own baggage. His connection with Miss Pettigrew is surprisingly mature, refreshingly understated, and incredibly warm. We potatoes may have teared up a little bit at the sweetness. It’s a romance that blooms between two people who thought love had passed them by. A gentle love story between two more mature individuals…and isn’t that the kind of love story we need more of?!

But while the champagne flows freely, the stakes feel real! War is looming. Survival is uncertain. And every character is making choices not just out of whimsy, but out of necessity. That tension, the thin line between luxury and ruin, gives the film an emotional edge we didn’t expect. For all the sequins and sass, there’s also longing, sacrifice, and deep, unspoken sadness tucked between scenes.

And maybe that’s why this story hit us harder than we expected. As people who have known instability much of our lives. Who have tiptoed around hunger, have been used, and have been passed over for being “too much” or “not enough,” we felt for Miss Pettigrew in a visceral way. And we recognized Delysia too: playing a part, smiling through the pain, keeping things pretty, putting up with abuse and hoping charm and humor can give her safety. They’re two sides of the same exhausted, put-upon coin—and we, unfortunately, understand that struggle all too well.

This movie has so much more depth than meets the eye, and while it can be a bit of a painful watch it is also incredibly funny, sweet, and thoughtful. We potatoes love this one!

Now, while we do not have many critiques, we do have a few!

First, the pace can be a bit dizzying. The film sprints from one dramatic encounter to the next, and sometimes the emotional moments don’t have quite enough time to settle. It’s a bit like being whisked through someone else’s dream and trying to keep up.

Second, we wish we’d gotten more time with Miss Pettigrew alone. We would have liked to see her sit with her thoughts, to hear her inner world, to feel her transformation more fully. She shifts beautifully, but a little more space would’ve made the final act hit even harder.

Lastly, we do have to pause and acknowledge one very important thing that left us potatoes sighing: the sexism baked into this story. Delysia’s over-the-top charm isn’t just her personality—it’s a performance. A survival strategy in a world that infantilizes women and rewards submissive, childish, and flirty behavior with protection, shelter, and access. She juggles men not out of indecisiveness, but out of necessity.

We potatoes do want to be clear that we do not love Delysia juggling so many men, but we understand why she does. We are a couple of monogamous potatoes, but we are not in her situation. We are not living her life, and it is easy to judge her without looking at the entire picture. We potatoes aren't here to judge her. We just understand.

And while Miss Pettigrew is wonderfully resourceful, the truth is that by the end, both women still need a man to “save” them. It’s a man’s world… specifically a white man’s world (especially back then), and the film doesn’t really challenge that.

While historically accurate, it’s disheartening. We potatoes would’ve loved to see these two brilliant women band together and forge their own path! But instead, the story leans into romance over rebellion. And in a time where so many men, and our government, seem eager to turn back the clock… that ending feels less whimsical and more wearying. Still, even amidst the frustration, we see the glimmers of solidarity, and we’ll keep dreaming of the version where they save themselves and each other.

That said, we potatoes do want to take a moment to appreciate the love story between Miss Pettigrew and Joe. While we wish both women could have found a way to save themselves without depending on any man, we truly adored seeing a romance between two older individuals portrayed with warmth, respect, and sincerity. It’s a rare and lovely thing to see in film, and it made our potato hearts swell. Not every story needs to be grand and youthful to be meaningful, sometimes, the quiet, steady blossoming of connection later in life is its own kind of beautiful revolution.

All in all, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is exactly what the title promises: one day. One wild, unexpected, life-changing day that shakes up the rules and lets two very different women grow and shift their perspectives. It’s funny, flirty, and full of charm! But most importantly, it’s a reminder that you don’t have to follow the script life gave you. You do not have to be who society pressures you to be. You can rip it all up and write something new. Even if it’s only for a day.

So! If you’re in the mood for vintage glamor, screwball antics, and a surprising splash of emotional truth, then this is the film for you! We highly recommend it! Pour yourself something bubbly, put on your fur coat (faux fur of course), and let yourself get swept up.

Cheers to Miss Pettigrew! To second chances, sudden transformations, and saying yes to something a little bit out of character. To the women who’ve been underestimated, overlooked, or boxed in. Whether your reinvention is glamorous or quiet, messy or magnificent—it still counts. And most of all… cheers to you!

We give this movie 5 out of 5 vintage glasses of Champagne!

The Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day Drinking Game

Take a sip anytime:

1.     Anyone says "Miss Pettigrew"

2.     Anytime jazz or swing music plays

3.     Anytime there's a bombing raid or drill

4.     Miss Pettigrew tries to eat but gets interrupted

5.     Miss Pettigrew covers for Delysia

6.     Miss Pettigrew lies

7.     Miss Pettigrew is judgmental

8.     Delysia gasps or exclaims

9.     Delysia says "The Rabbit"

10.  Delysia is naive or childish

11.  Delysia gives the audience her performative smile

12.  Edythe is catty or mean

13.  Joe compliments someone

14.  Joe suddenly appears

What did you think? Did you like the movie? Did you hate it? What movies should we watch? Any and all thoughts are welcome! Let us know here in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly!

What do you think? Do you like this drinking game? Are there rules missing? Is the game too intense? Are there movies that you think we should make a drinking game for? Let us know here in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly! (Drinks can be water, soda, anything nonalcoholic, etc. Please be safe, have fun and take care of you!)