As a movie, An Ideal Husband is quite ideal. The five central characters are quite superb. Jeremy Northam is Sir Robert Chiltern, a politician with many an eye on him as a potential candidate for the top job. He's married to Gertrude, the very model of respectability, who has never been forced to lower her standards in any shape, size, or form. Cate Blanchett plays Gertrude and she seems made to play the part. In some ways her role is a tad foolish, but Blanchett manages to pull it off most effectively.

Even more effective, is Rupert Everett as Lord Goring. He's a friend to Sir Robert and Lady Chiltern, and destined to be more than a friend to Robert's younger sister, Mabel, played by Minnie Driver. Everett is MADE to play the part of the gently foppish Lord Goring. You have to love every moment he's on screen and the various situations he has to play are brilliant.

But before the romance can be played out, there has to be some intrigue and a little devilry, and indeed there is! It comes in the form of Mrs. Cheveley, played quite wonderfully by Julianne Moore. Her past three moves has really shown a spectacular diversity in her acting. I loved her in Cookie's Fortune where she plays the simple downtrodden sister until the last minute, when she suddenly shows that she knew the way things lay all along.

As Mrs. Chevely, Moore is the villain. She has blackmail fodder on Chiltern and intends to use it most effectively to her advantage. Of course, her best advantage will modify as the movie goes along, just so that each character can best be involved and entangled in the mix. Sometimes contrived and by the end rather predicable, the plot is nonetheless appealing.

Director Oliver Parker adds some nice touches. When the crew attend the theatre, for example, it is to see "The Importance of Being Earnest." And the production is followed by a few chosen words from the author of both plays: Oscar Wilde.

In short, an ideal husband is really a greatly entertaining experience. The actors are very fine, especially Blancett and Everett. The costumes are fun and the plot is an apt device to move things to an appealing and fitting conclusion.