Playwright Oscar Wilde's dialogue remains as witty today as when he originally wrote it — even when it's been contemporized, as is the case in the latest adaptation of his stage play "The Importance of Being Earnest."

However, Wilde's sharply observed social humor — the other crucial component of Wilde's fictional and nonfictional work — has been muted somewhat here.

Perhaps it's the distracting, curious modern-day touches that keep cropping up. Or perhaps it's the uncertain tone of this re-do, which alternates between whimsy and seriousness — tilting heavily toward the latter in the final third.

Whatever the reason, filmmaker Oliver Parker has misfired with what would seem to be can't-miss material.

What makes this so surprising is that Parker has treated Wilde's material with reverence in the past (in 1999's "An Ideal Husband" — though that film did contain an oddly intrusive moment of female nudity in the first scene).

The title of this social and romantic comedy — "The Importance of Being Earnest" — refers to a false identity assumed by Jack Worthing (Colin Firth), who lives on weekdays at his country estate as a proper gentleman. On weekends, however, Jack travels to London and pretends he is Ernest, his own carefree, irresponsible — and nonexistent — younger brother, who is romancing young aristocrat Gwendolen Fairfax (Frances O'Connor).

But Jack's best friend, Algy Moncreef (Rupert Everett), also begins co-opting the "Ernest" name. Due to mounting financial pressures, Algy needs a place to lie low, so he heads to the Worthing estate and assumes the "Ernest" identity.

And as Ernest, Algy begins romancing Jack's young ward, Cecily Cardew (Reese Witherspoon), much to Jack's horror. Unfortunately, Gwendolen has decided to head to the estate as well, to surprise Jack/Ernest. And if that isn't bad enough, her disapproving mother (Dame Judi Dench) is hot on her heels.

In order to flesh out some of the characters, Parker (who also wrote this big-screen adaptation) has thrown out a few side stories and contrived others that aren't nearly as interesting. And curiously, the main couples here don't seem to work — Everett and Witherspoon have no chemistry, while Firth and O'Connor's relationship seems more familial than romantic.

By comparison, the supporting cast is much more interesting. Dench enlivens the material every time she's on the screen, as does Tom Wilkinson, whose painfully shy Dr. Chasuble is the most appealing character here.

"The Importance of Being Earnest" is rated PG for some mildly suggestive talk, use of a couple of mild profanities and brief female nudity. Running time: 94 minutes.

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