(2002) In 1890s London, Algernon Moncrieff (Rupert Everett) informs his friend Ernest Worthing (Colin Firth), who claims to be in love with Algy's cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax (Frances O'Connor), that "The very essence of romance is uncertainty."

An engraving on a cigarette case leads to Ernest's explaining to Algy his being the guardian of an 18-year-old niece, Cecily Cardew (Reese Witherspoon), residing at his country manor. Ernest further reveals that his actual name is Jack and that he employs the fictitious name Ernest for a rakish brother, convenient for getting away from the country to London.

Algernon accuses Jack of being a Bunburyist, that is, similar to himself, for he uses the invention of an invalid acquaintance named Bunbury for compassionate visits to avoid responsibilities, such as social occasions with his Aunt Augusta Bracknell (Judi Dench).

In his adaptation, director/screenwriter Oliver Parker has faithfully captured the wit and sparkle of Oscar Wilde's play.

As Ernest (for Jack is in London) attempts to propose marriage to Gwendolen (not indifferent even before she'd met him since her "ideal to love someone named Ernest" has been paramount among her hopes), he's interrupted by the girl's mother, Lady Bracknell.

During her interrogation of the gentleman to determine his quality and suitability as a son-in-law, Lady Bracknell asks about his parentage. Answering that he has lost both - "To lose one parent," Lady Bracknell observes, "may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness" - Ernest then admits his parents lost him: he was a foundling left in a handbag at Victoria Station. This, being "bred in a handbag" at a railway station, will not do; Lady Bracknell advises Ernest to find a proper parent.

Curious about Ernest's niece, Algernon shaves his mustache and makes his way to Hertfordshire by hot-air balloon, pretending to be Uncle Jack's brother Ernest from London. Under the tutelage of her governess Miss Prism (Anna Massey), Cecily, already having imagined among her other fanciful fantasies an engagement of three months to Ernest (all recorded in her diary among her wonderful secrets with letters she has composed for him to herself), is overjoyed to finally make Ernest's acquaintance, for she has long dreamed "to love someone named Ernest."

However, Uncle Jack arrives with an urn containing his brother's remains, which Ernest (i.e. Algernon) jocularly explains as having been a practical joke, himself a phoenix from the ashes. When Jack receives Gwendolen's letter of her motoring out for a visit, he says to Algy: "We can't both be called Ernest."

An unsavory incident of a solicitor's demand from Ernest payment of a large account at the Savory ("No gentleman ever has any money") spoils the romance, for though Jack agrees to make good (after all it was his account) on his "brother's" behalf, he makes a condition that Ernest immediately depart by cart to be at Bunbury's bedside.

Soon after Gwendolen makes her appearance, the hoax is exposed, and the two young ladies (after calling each other various names) refer to each other as "sister." Just as the contentious convolutions are getting straightened out - with the assistance of Reverend Dr Chasuble (Tom Wilkinson) - to everyone's satisfaction (style rather than sincerity being Gwendolen's concern), Lady Bracknell enters and makes a scene, creating renewed uncertainty.

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