You’ve heard of Development Hell of course. Well let’s just say that it’s not a unique or new phenomenon. Some scripts end of on a trash pile somewhere (or hopefully recycling bin, if this is the case), and some are fast tracked into production lickity split. But others still seem to end up in some form of suspended animation waiting for the right combination of timing and interest to spring forth and finally deliver. Take Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day for instance; the book was written in 1938, immediately optioned and then nothing came of it. Maybe the fates were just waiting for the right pair of actresses to come along.

Miss Pettigrew is played by Frances McDormand, she’s a down on her luck governess that can’t get a job in pre-war London, so vividly does her dowdy reputation precede her. Miss Pettigrew is not a woman without intelligence though, and while looking for job she steals the address of a young American actress named Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams), who’s looking for a social secretary. No sooner does Miss Pettigrew arrive then she’s on the job helping Delysia juggle her men: bar owner Nick (Mark Strong), play producer Phil (Tom Payne) and a recently paroled piano player named Michael (Lee Pace). Miss Pettigrew herself draws the attention of Joe Blumfield (Ciarán Hinds), an underwear designer, during what becomes the most eventful day of her life.

This film is a delight, even though there’s nothing really ambitious about it. It’s almost like watching a play thanks to a few self-contained sets that the actors zip across trading lines so fast they are always quite nearly out of breath. This asks a lot of the actors, but this cast is more than up for the challenge. McDormand and Adams are instantly great together with Miss Pettigrew’s proper Brit having to shepherd this American girl and her cavalier attitude about having a trilogy of lovers all at once. It’s a culture clash to be sure, and mismatched comedy, when done right, is always a winner for the actors and the audience. But the film works because despite the differences between these two women, there’s a discernable connection between the two of them.

But don’t think that the men get the short-shifted. Pace, who plays the pauper poor piano player that may be Delysia’s true love, will be recognizable to fans of the TV show Pushing Daisies as Ned the Pie Maker. I know the girls love him and I don’t think he’s going to change any minds here considering that he is the one we’re all rooting for and that he’s more emotive and passionate than Ned. Also good is Ciarán Hinds, who typically disappears into the part, but here gets the chance to glow as Miss Pettigrew’s romantic interest, which as compared to Delysia’s love life, is really quite sweet. Also, sharp-eyed viewers will recognize Shirley Henderson as Joe’s would-be fiancée Edythe from her small part in two of the Harry Potters; she was ‘Moaning’ Myrtle.

Obviously, I don’t think this will skewer to everybody’s taste; the audience I saw it with was filled with older ladies, who all seemed to love it by the way. Still, lovers of old screwball comedies are going to enjoy this as it easily nails the tone missed by George Clooney’s similarly aspiring football rom-com Leatherheads. Light, breezy and enjoyable from beginning to end, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is just a good time at the movies, period.