The big picture

• Mr. Malcolm’s List
  is a worthwhile love story from the Regency period that addresses gender politics in courtship.
• The film features ballroom scenes such as
  Bridgerton
  with beautiful dance moments and forbidden love affairs.
• The cast of
  Mr. Malcolm’s List
  shines and adds depth to the romantic elements of the film.

The successful series from Netflix Bridgerton is not the only historical drama in which gossip and hearts are broken. Mr. Malcolm’s List is an unsung classic of Regency romance and deserves its flowers, as many of its characters desire from their lovers. A subtle study of the stuffy hierarchy of courtship during the Regency era, Mr. Malcolm’s List sheds light on the unfair gender politics that played a role in the search for a partner at that time. Director: Emma Holly Jones and written by Suzanne AllainWomen dominate not only the screen, but also behind the scenes.

Freida Pinto Stars in Mr. Malcolm’s List as a headstrong, single woman and social outsider who is called back to London by her best friend (Zawe Ashton) to humiliate a desirable single man, Mr. Jeremy Malcolm (Sope Dirisu) who has unrealistic expectations of women when looking for a wife. Mr. Malcolm’s List is the image of Bridgertonwith elaborate ball scenes, forbidden love affairs and gossip that dominates society. For those who miss Bridgerton and need another Regency romance to bridge the time until the premiere of the latest season, Mr. Malcolm’s List must be seen.

What is Mr. Malcolm’s List about?

Selina (Pinto), a single woman living in the country, is summoned to London by her cheeky and brash best friend Julia (Ashton), who has just had a failed date at the opera with the most eligible bachelor in town, Mr. Malcolm (Dirisu). After her suitor shows disinterest, Julia is ridiculed in the gossip tabloids that are posted all over town and is further humiliated when Mr. Malcolm never bothers to visit her after her outing. When Julia is joined by her cousin Lord Cassidy (a hilarious Oliver Cohen-Jackson) that Mr. Malcolm maintains a long list of requirements that women must fulfill in order to even be considered as marriage candidates, She forges her own plan for revenge.

Julia prepares Selina to be the perfect romantic candidate for Mr. Malcolm by fulfilling all of his so-called requirements, although her ultimate goal is to pull the rug out from under him and make Selina reject him when he hopefully falls in love with her. But when Selina and Mr. Malcolm start to like each other, it puts a strain on Selina and Julia’s friendship and Selina begins to wonder if she might actually be in love with the mysterious Mr. Malcolm. A dashing Theo James plays Captain Henry Ossery, who also courts Selina’s heart, but falls in love with Julia instead, creating a dizzying love triangle that every Bridgerton Season.

If you love Bridgerton, Mr. Malcolm’s List offers more of the same Regency elements

Promenades full of longing glances and heartache, accompanied by burning violin solos, are part of what Bridgerton a success at the premiere. Phoebe Dynevor‘s Daphne and Regé-Jean PageSimon fell in love during the first season, in a love affair that started off as a fake but quickly became real. Their best moments were on the dance floor. Even Selina and Mr. Malcolm’s most intimate moments take place while dancing. In a film that does not have the luxury of shooting hot love scenes in the bedroom that are not rated for adults, Mr. Malcolm’s List gets creative and uses the ballroom to his advantage to give his characters opportunities to speak that their words would never allow.

The climax of Selina and Mr. Malcolm’s dance is filmed in a stunning ballroom with beautiful costumes, with Selina dressed as the moon goddess. Both Pinto and Dirisu master the complex dance steps by touching each other and touching each other again and again. Example of the tension of unspoken feelings between them. Jones stages the scene with a sweeping style across the dance floor, and it could easily fit into another Bridgerton Ball. For those who miss Daphne and Simon’s relationship, Selina and Mr. Malcolm tap into the same energy, as what was meant to be a facade and a revenge game becomes all too real when they dance together.

Theo James plays a scene-stealing bad boy in Mr. Malcolm’s List

In Mr. Malcolm’s ListAshton runs away with her role as a comic supporting character of a woman bent on revenge. When Ashton’s Julia develops an unspoken romance with scene-stealer James Captain Henry Ossery, she breathes new life into the film. For those who have seen James’ mischievous qualities in The White Lotushe still has the same playful energy in Mr. Malcolm’s Listbut he uses it for good, not evil. Ossery’s composure as a former, somewhat swashbuckling war hero is a perfect match for the courageous Julia, and James’s teasing flirtation with Ashton is a welcome change from Selina and Mr. Malcolm’s more serious courtship.

Mr. Malcolm’s List is also based on Allain’s critically acclaimed novel, and Mr. Ossery gets his big moment with the best declaration of love in the whole film, thanks to Allain’s eloquent dialogue. His and Julia’s story of enemies-turned-lovers adds a classic element that delights romantics, with James, who makes a witty declaration of love that everyone Bridgerton monologue. With his earnest gaze and sensitive manner, his vulnerable admission adds a welcome moment of honesty to a film that is largely about deception.

“Mr. Malcolm’s List” is a refreshing, feminist Regency romance

Although there are not exactly the same scenes as Bridgerton doesMr. Malcolm’s List carries the same cadence of passion through subtlety, offering a steamy romance that is still family-friendly. In a more playful moment, Mr. Malcolm teaches Selina to play cricket by putting his arms around her for a moment. You could cut through the tension with a knife, and it is a lesson that Less can be more.

The best thing about Mr. Malcolm’s List is the developing relationship between Selina and Mr. Malcolm, as well as the excellent examination of the role that gender played in marriage and love during the Regency era, which often aimed to oppress women. By highlighting the imbalance of power dynamics between the sexes, Mr. Malcolm’s infamous list literally symbolizes the boxes that men were willing to force women into at the time without receiving the same criticism. However, Selina’s intellect and willingness to teach Mr. Malcolm more progressive ways of courting encourage him to throw his list out the window altogether. When Mr. Malcolm suspends his judgment and realizes that he can find a woman who doesn’t have to check all of his so-called boxes, the film a message of female empowermentand throws toxic masculinity out the car window.

Mr. Malcolm’s List is now available to stream on Prime Video.

Watch on Prime Video