Mr. Malcolm’s List has a lot of charm, a fantastic cast with excellent chemistry, and plenty of humor, even if its plot lacks overall stakes.
The Regency era is back in style, with Netflix’s successful Bridgerton series and the upcoming adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion among the various media breathing fresh air into the subgenre. Mr. Malcolm’s List joins the ever-growing, uh, list of Regency romances and it is well worth the watch. Directed by Emma Holly Jones from a screenplay by Suzanne Allain (who adapted it from her novel of the same name), Mr. Malcolm’s List has a lot of charm, a fantastic cast with excellent chemistry, and plenty of humor, even if its plot lacks overall stakes.
Julia Thistlewaite (Zawe Ashton) is entering her fifth social season as a single woman in London’s high society. In 1818, this was a stressful occurrence and already Julia was receiving comments about stepping aside to make room for the “younger” women preparing themselves for the marriage mart. But Julia has a lot of pride and carries on unperturbed by the looks and gossip. After a quick courtship with Mr. Jeremiah Malcolm (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù), who reiterates that he only went out with her once, Julia is embarrassed to learn she is made into a caricature in London’s society paper in the aftermath of her failed outing. With her reputation taking a massive hit, and thereafter discovering Mr. Malcolm has a list of requirements for a wife that she did not meet from her cousin Lord Cassidy (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), Julia sets her sights on revenge. She recruits her longtime friend, Selina Dalton (Freida Pinto), who comes from a family of humble means, to pose as Mr. Malcolm’s ideal match in the hopes of publicly humiliating him.
For her feature film debut, Jones makes a solid effort to bring a balance of drama, romance, and humor to Mr. Malcolm’s List. There is a little bit of all three, but it’s mostly the comedic moments that shine. To that end, Jones knows how to time the humor to give the film a bit more of a lighthearted tone. Zawe Ashton and the Thistlewaites’ staff (memorably portrayed by Divian Ladwa and Sianad Gregory) are the highlights in regards to the film’s comedy, bringing a distinct charisma and lightness to the proceedings. The story, which was initially made into a short film starring Gemma Chan as Julia before becoming a feature, is predictable (because of course it is), but it does not mean there aren’t a few surprises thrown in throughout. There is the witty banter, the friendship between Julia and Selina, and the electric romance between Selina and the titular Mr. Malcolm. And while each of these aspects could have used further exploration and, quite frankly, more screen time, Mr. Malcolm’s List’s charm and sense of humor will surely win viewers over.
Mr. Malcolm’s List thrives primarily on the strength of its cast. Their chemistry is wonderful and when Pinto and Dìrísù share a scene together the sparks fly. Ashton is especially a highlight, her screen presence so charismatic that she sometimes overshadows the rest of the cast. Her scenes with Jackson-Cohen (who is quite funny here) and The Time Traveler’s Wife’s Theo James are especially winsome and endearing. Honestly, the film could have used a lot more of these kinds of interactions. It’s too bad, then, that the film’s pacing and the plot’s scheme (which sometimes only works because the characters are pushed to keep it going regardless of its logic gaps) prevent it from soaring to excellence. Certain character beats not fully work, especially Julia’s decision in the final act, and there could have been a lot more built-up tension and romance. Pinto and Dìrísù are great in their roles, but there are not enough scenes with them alone to capitalize on their chemistry, which fully comes alive in the lovely and beautifully filmed masquerade dance scene. The ending could have certainly been made a bit less underwhelming had there simply been more time spent with the characters.
All that said, Mr. Malcolm’s List still has all the makings of a delightful and engrossing Regency film. The cast’s charm and the film’s humor elevate the material, which needed just a bit more fine-tuning. But one of the great things about Mr. Malcolm’s List is that it never takes itself too seriously, which alleviates its missteps and will leave audiences engaged and entertained by a feel-good romance that benefits from extremely endearing actors.
Mr. Malcolm’s List released in theaters July 1. The film is 115 minutes long and is rated PG for some smoking and mild language.
- Mr. Malcolm’s List (2022)Release date: Jul 01, 2022
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