The Jane Austen Book Club [DVD] [2008]

Amazon.co.uk Review Lest there be any doubts about the ongoing relevance of the novels of Jane Austen, the charming Jane Austen Book Club will lay them to rest--with wit, sharp insight, and a wicked chuckle or three. Directed by the talented Robin Swicord, who adapted the book by Karen Joy Fowler (and also wrote the crackling screenplay for the 1994 version of Little Women), the film is a modern-day comedy of manners, with deeply felt emotions, repressed feelings, unquenched desire and embarrassing relatives--all staples of Austen works. The film centres on a group of six friends in Sacramento, California, who gather to distract themselves from loss (a newly dumped Sylvia, played with grace and quiet pain by Amy Brenneman), repressed disappointment (the prissy teacher Prudie, played by Emily Blunt), or a life of unrealised dreams (Jocelyn, played by Maria Bello, whose acting skills have gained great nuance, both in comedy and drama). All are devoted Austen fans, except the lone man, Grigg (Hugh Dancy, adorable and available, ladies), who has an ulterior motive for joining the chick-lit gang. As the months unfold, we learn about the relationships of all the members, and watch as elements of Austen's novels and characters pop up with enchanting regularity. There's plenty of pride (Prudie), prejudice (Jocelyn), sense (Sylvia), and sensibility (Sylvia's daughter Allegra, headstrong and reckless in life and love, played by Maggie Grace)--and a fair amount of persuasion (Grigg and Sylvia's caddish ex, Daniel, a smooth Jimmy Smits). As the minuet of relationships and alliances unfolds over the months, the emotions are real and the leavening humour spot-on. About the only thing that doesn't ring true is seeing all these Sacramento women bundled up in shawls, blankets, thick sweaters and extra layers--even in July(!). Still, the film will engage even reluctant Austen readers (if there is such a thing). As Kathy Baker's Bernadette says gaily, "Jane Austen is the perfect antidote to life!" Elizabeth Bennett couldn't have put it better. --A.T. Hurley Product Description Robin Swicord directs this romantic comedy starring Kathy Baker, Amy Brenneman and Hugh Dancy. The story revolves around five women and one man who get together once a month to discuss the novels of the beloved English writer Jane Austen. The club is organised by Bernadette (Baker) in order to help her friend Sylvia (Brennemen) who is getting over a break-up. Sylvia's lesbian daughter Allegra (Maggie Grace) joins to support her mother, as does Sylvia's friend Jocelyn (Maria Bello) who brings along a young man she just met (Dancy) in the hope of playing matchmaker and the group is completed by Prudie Drummond (Emily Blunt), a young teacher. Finding comfort, wit and wisdom from the pages and each other, they begin to realise that their own love lives parallel Austen's seemingly timeless storylines.