Saturday 9 August 2008

Oh Mr Darcy What Have You Done?

Every girl that ever had the incredibly good fortune to see the BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice in the mid 90's (and hundreds of times since, obviously) must hold in their hearts a very special place for Colin Firth as Mr Darcy (sorry but that Matthew MacFadyen fella just doesn't compare at all).

Who could watch without being consumed with envy for that lucky old Elizabeth Bennett?

Who didn't secretly wish he uttered to them 'In vain have I struggled, it will not do. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.' (Well I'm actually hoping more than just me had that thought or else I am gonna look a tad crazy.) So in my mind Colin Firth and Mr Darcy became one and the same person. Completely inseparable.

So imagine my despair at having to see my Mr. Darcy-Firth in another role when I wanted to go see Bridget Jones Diary.

I'm not gonna lie it was slightly painful to come to the realisation that Colin Firth had a life beyond Mr Darcy. That he didn't just sit around at home constantly in Jane Austen-esque apparel, brooding.

But, all was redeemed when as Mark Darcy he says these very words. 'I don't think you're an idiot at all. I mean, there are elements of the ridiculous about you. Your mother's pretty interesting. And you really are an appallingly bad public speaker. And, um, you tend to let whatever is in your head come out of your mouth without much consideration of the consequences... But the thing is, um, what I'm trying to say, very inarticulately, is that, um, in fact, perhaps despite appearances, I like you, very much. Just as you are. '

And my adoration was maintained. (Despite the reindeer jumper).

So then he became to me Mr Darcy-Darcy-Firth and all was right in the world.

So last night I went to see Mamma Mia. I hadn't actually wanted to see it but I went along to see what all the hype was about. I came away effected three fold:

  1. I will hear Abba songs in my head until the very end of time and maybe considerably longer.
  2. Bless that man for his courage but Pierce Brosnan should never ever be allowed to sing (it's really not very 007 is it?) I was embarrassed for him, not just a little embarrassed either but embarrassed to my very inner core. The kind of embarrassment where you can't even look at the screen or sit still in your chair.
  3. Sadly My Mr Darcy adoration has now unexpectedly expired. Having seen Mr Darcy-Darcy-Firth decked out in a 70's style Bee Gee's inspired get up (containing more Lycra than a man should ever wear) dancing extremely happily to Abba without any utterance of words such as ardently or just the way you are led me down a road I really wasn't prepared for. My adoration is now officially over.

A sad day indeed.

Excuse me while I go watch Pride & Prejudice for 6 hours in the vain hope that I can salvage the magic.

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25 lovely comments:

Kelli @ writing the waves said...

Awww...I'm sorry, Carol. I should have warned you. He was cute when he sang the song with his "daughter" though, didn't ya think? But yeah, the twist at the end and the jump suits were a little much.

And you are right, Pierce Brosnan cannot sing. Poor guy...he really looked/sounded like he was struggling. Then come to find out on an interview that he never wanted to do the part and said he couldn't sing, but was assured by the producers/casting people to just ham it up and it would be funny. When I saw it, the audience was cracking up. Enjoyment at his expense...but that's okay. I'm sure he got paid some big bucks. :)

I hope the 6 hours of P&P helps a little... Poor Mr. Darcy.

The Rogers Blog said...

Tis true I have been an admirer of Mr firth my self a time or too and would have infact left stu had collin come swept me off my feet. alas stu is safe!! Think I'll give the flic a wide birth then!!

3boys247 said...

I have seen the play twice so I knew what to expect. I was saddened when I realized Mr. Darcy..um I mean Colin Firth was playing Harry and not Sam or Bill.

I just finished a book called Austenland. The jacket says "For every woman who read Pride and Prejudice and sighed for Mr. Darcy: a confection of a novel from New York Times-bestselling author Shannon Hale"

Hope you like it.

Angelique said...

True dat!

Although I loved Mama Mia and will probably go see it a second time :)The soundtrack rocked, but I want it with the actors singing, not Abba!

Tiffany said...

That is so TRUE! I have long loved him in his Jane Austenesque roles and it is always strange to see him out of that - the movie Love Actually was another example.

I haven't seen Mama Mia yet, but can only imagine that on that front I will feel the same way! Did you like Mama Mia - aside from Pierce Brosnan?

Anyway, thanks for stopping by my blog! I always love reading yours.

Melissa said...

Oh No!!!! Here I was thinking that Mamma Mia would be awesome, with Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth to stare at the whole film, but now I think I'll skip it. Thanks for the head's up!

You need to watch "The Importance of Being Earnest" with Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon. He was so cute and loveable in that one, just like in Bridget Jones diary and in Pride and Prejudice. In those roles, I could just EAT him!
(Don't tell Curt I said that!)

Aprille - The Muddled said...

You are not alone! I mean with such good prose how could one not fall in love with the first man to utter them. I mean who can resist a man telling her "despite your looks" lol. Thank you for warning me. Maybe I will wait for the video. I had been considering this as an outing for myself but I think it might be better spent silently reading in the corner of a bookstore!

The Nice One said...

When I saw your title I immediately wondered if you had seen his most recent movie. Oh and Pierce, baby, let's talk. Sunscreen, SPF 50, yea, honey.

Thanks for dropping by my blog ;)

Clare said...

OH, I haven't see it yet, but my friend was telling me about the awful 007 singing and that she also said it was weirdly uncomfortable! XO, Clare

Beth Cotell said...

Good luck trying to get that old magic back!

I myself have never understood all the Colin Firth hype but that's just me.

Mama Smurf said...

So...I wonder...how big of a dork will I look if I admit that I have absolutely NO CLUE who this man is. He doesn't even look remotely familiar.

Go ahead...you can say it...I know....

Anonymous said...

CANDY<--Loyal fan of Mr. Darcy-Firth ;-)

jOni lAnE said...

Your post had me chuckling the whole way through. I want to see Mama Mia...but the fear of too much spandex is keeping me at bay. I'll have to work up the courage. Thanks for a good laugh today.
Smiles,
j

Becks said...

Oh how I love that Pride and Prejudice as well!! Yummy Mr. Darcy! Yummy Colin Firth! Note to self...do not go see Mamma Mia! Thanks for the tip. I want to keep Mr. Darcy just as he is in my head!

Anonymous said...

As your love doctor, I prescribe you (in addition to your six hours of P & P) one dose of "Love Actually". I think that should do the trick.

It's official! You've now convinced me to skip Mamma Mia.

Miss Lisa said...

I just love ABBA--I liked mama mia but Pierce ruined it for me :(

hate it when our 'boyfriends' let us down ;)

Angelique said...

How funny - I actually like Pierce Bronsin in it! It was comedical, like the rest of the movie. There wasn't anything serious enough in the movie for me to think he was way off. I still <3 Pierce!!

AMY said...

I love Colin Firth. I refuse to see Momma Mia now!

Anonymous said...

Ah, do not despair. Just go watch the 2005 P & P version again with Matthew M...you must trust me on this. I was just like you about the BBC version and Colin and quite convinced I wouldn't convert....until I saw it a second time! Zowie... it will hit you.

Andrea@Sgt and Mrs Hub said...

Colin Firth is "it" for me. :) I adore him. He was brilliant in P&P and I loved him in Bridget Jones. I just watched Love Actually last night and loved him again. My favorite male actor... I haven't seen Mamma Mia and I am thinking, from your description, my life will be just fine without it!

-Andrea

Science PhD Mom said...

All right, you have officially convinced me to skip Mamma Mia. I will watch it in on stage as it started instead. I would not want my admiration of Mr. Darcy's "fine eyes" to be affected. :)

Wendi said...

Oh I love me some Mr. Darcy!
Agreed...Colin Firth is the best and BBC is the only real and true version of P&P.
I have been wanting terribly to see Mama Mia.
Now...not so sure.
I don't want to see Mr. Darcy dancing to ABBA in lycra...ewww!

BookMamma said...

Yikes. Thanks for the tip.

I can't afford to have my Firth-Darcy-Darcy image shattered. It means too much to me!

Katie said...

I could add like 10 more things onto the list of why mama mia was a HUGE disappointment to me, but I'll spare you. I completely feel your pain, though.

Unknown said...

Yes, yes, yes! My friend and I had seen Mamma Mia on Broadway, so we saw the movie together and loved it, but we said the same thing about Pierce!!

And I saw Bridget Jones before I saw (or reread) P&P, but even through that, I knew he WAS Mr. Darcy.