A factually derived British comedy about Victorian invention fever and sexual repression, as prim doctors devise the first vibrator to treat the perceived plague of female “hysteria.” Maggie Gyllenhaal delivers a bravura performance as a feminist social worker who sees through the patronizing foolishness. Wilde and Shaw did such humor more wittily, without the jarring (even in 2012) jump from dainty chat about parsnips to a fellatio joke. Also, duck humping. Tanya Wexler directed a gifted cast: Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce, Rupert Everett, Felicity Jones, Gemma Jones. (2012) — David Elliott
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