Austenland [DVD] [2013]

This is so fun! Can’t help but return to it over and over for the smile it puts on my face and my daughter’s (this purchase was the latest rewatch for her 21st…) It’s crazy, with hilarious characters but a cute romcom too! Try it!

Keri Russell's excellent performance as Jane (named after Jane Austen) doesn't save this film.The biggest handicap is Jennifer Coolidge - she plays the role of "Elizabeth Charming" in the exact same way she played Amanda Buffamonteezi in "Friends"; Charming comprises one joke, which comes over as forced, and which is endlessly repeated. Charming is in too many scenes - she's so narcisstic, loud in volume, crass and wearying that she overshadows pleasant Jane. Likewise the taller bigger-built and bustier Coolidge physically overshadows Russell.The only thing I enjoyed was being in a Jane Austen landscape, seeing the room interiors and the costumes. (The vintage cars are a Regency anachronism though!) Austenland might look similar to the world of "Pride and Prejudice" but the Austenland characters don't make it desirable to visit or live there. That the undermining involved isn't a nice feeling if you're a fan of Jane Austen's books and of the dramatisations such as the 1995 "Pride and Prejudice" starring Colin Firth which Jane adores and of "Mansfield Park" starring Billie Piper (Austenland's characters perform a plan as per scenes in "Mansfield Park"). We the viewers see part of ourselves in Jane (who's a Jane Austen fan, especially a Colin Firth/Darcy "Pride and Prejudice" fan), so it's unpleasant watching her be exploited and abused.This film isn't just a send-up of Jane Austen's books, it's a satire with some decidedly unpleasant aspects. The Austenland characters are caricatures e.g. Mrs Wattlesbrook = Lady Catherine de Bourgh. There's a lot of over-acting, which makes you cringe at times. And you always feel that Jane Austen does sending-up far better, in a lighter and more effective way.The satire seems stuck in a rut too, concentrating on a silly romance. Jane Austen's books explore various themes such as love, obstructed love, society (etiquette taboos, manners, social mobility). These themes are in this film (mostly) but presented in a muddled way. There's little coherence - some scenes seemed to lead into others implausibly or were non-sequiturs. The film could've been so much more if it had woven in more themes and made the most of the Austen landscape. Like Jane, we the viewer splashed out on a trip to Austenland but lose out because we see what we could've had with the Platinum package but actually we receive only the Copper package.

Based on the book by Shannon Hale this is a BBC Films adaptation and it is a little corker. We meet Jane Hayes played wonderfully by Keri Russell (`August Rush' and `Mission Impossible III'). She is completely obsessed with Jane Austen and all her works; she even sports a `I Love D'arcy' bag - he is fictional don't ya know. And has a cardboard cut-out of Colin Firth in her flat - dressed as D'arcy.Well she decides to blow her life savings on a `life changing' trip to theme park extraordinaire, `Austenland'. As the name would indicate this is a total immersion event where you get to live the life of one of Austen's characters for a whole week. This means a trip to England (actually filmed down the road from me in West Wycombe Park). On arrival she discovers that her accompanying guest is fellow American Miss Elizabeth Charming (an Austenland given name) played with over the top brilliance by the excessively talented Jennifer Collidge - `Gentleman Broncos' where she is superb too. She is brash, loud and wants to dress in the costumes so she can have a cleavage to die for - and she steals every scene.Anyway the week will have its ups and downs - social faux pas and consorting with `the help' from `below stairs' no less. There is also a real live Mr D'arcy and the Mistress of ceremonies is played with measured stuffiness and snobbery by Jane Seymour. Of course all the extras are actors and the lines between reality and fiction are sometimes too blurred to tell apart. As this is based on Jane Austen there is always going to be romance, trouble, heartache and in this case some real gut, laugh humour.Yes this is a rom com but I absolutely loved it. The soundtrack is Emmy the Great and a great cover of Yazoo's `Only You' is waiting in here to be discovered too. I had better stop before I out `gush' myself. Just can't recommend strongly enough and even the run offs are great - pure quality.

This was so much fun, I wasn't expecting anything really, but this film delivered none the less by the bucket load. This is a very tongue in cheek movie and not for a die hard aficionado of Jane Austen but more for someone who appreciates the concept but doesn't take it too seriously.This movie stars Kerri Russell as Jane Hayes a single thirtysomething, unlucky in love but obsessed with Jane Austen. Therefore, our heroine takes a package holiday to Austenland where she is required to wear traditional dress on landing in England, and to interact with the actors employed to give authenticity to the experience. This difference between the acting and her real life feelings become blurred and we are very much led willingly into to chick flick territory. I loved the chemistry between Jane and her fellow American Austen fan played by Jennifer Collidge who was hilarious throughout.To be honest it doesn't matter how much our heroine is required to play a part, the actress was so good I felt I identified all the way through. This was a totally charming film, light hearted and well meaning comedy. It met my expectations and totally raised them.Even though from early on I knew who Jane/ Miss Earstwhile would end up with I still enjoyed this, the supporting cast is so very good that you don't care, and enjoy the ride. Watching this from very early on in I knew I would probably buy it, which is not like me, but it really had such a good feel that I wanted to repeat the experience as soon as possible.This is a very watchable and well meant piece and not just for Jane Austen fans, of which I am not, so I would recommend to anyone wanting a fairly original and lovely film to pass the time.

It's a great laugh & a good love story

It's a fun loving, light hearted romantic comedy. Highly recommended 👌