Austenland (2013)

I only heard of this movie because of a trailer on another Netflix rental. From the get-go I appreciated that the background story of the heroine isn't drawn out. Instead, you get the gist and are immediately thrown into this wacky, modern spin-off of Jane Austen novels. This movie perfectly walks the line of romantic comedy and random humor that really made it enjoyable. The lovable "plain Jane" is likable and you really aren't 100% sure who her real "Mr. Darcy" is until the very end. I watched this with my fiancé who laughed just as much as I over the off-the-wall acting, random fake birds, and unexpected piano renditions.If you love a slightly cheesy romantic comedy with British literature romance references thrown in, you'll enjoy this and so should your boyfriend...just tell him Stifler's Mom is in it!

For any Jane Austen fan, I think this film provides the ultimate fest. It is witty, fun and charming with lovely scenes, music, cast and great directing. I love the modernisation of the original story -spoiler- (as in the 'It's getting hot in here' scene) as well as the additions, like the gun-firing and saving the lady in distress under the rain scenes. -Spoiler- Plus, making Knobly a real-life character rather than an actor -as was the case in the novel- is well thought of. It raises the level of realism of the whole plot.I have read the book only recently, after watching the film and I think the director did a great job filling in the gaps of the novel. With her aid, the story became perfect which previously I think had many deficiencies in plot. Watch the film and I assure you, you won't regret it ;)

I was looking to find a movie my wife would enjoy. I didn't care what we saw, as long as we saw something.I expected to be bored and to get an extra dose of cheesiness from this film.I laughed a fair amount, which was unexpected. Really, the juxtaposition of Jennifer Coolidge's (Miss Elizabeth Charming) humor with Keri Russell's (Jane Hayes) seriousness really made the show.The setting added to comedy and doubled up on the serious vs. funny contrast. Jane Seymour's (Mrs. Wattlesbrook) serious and very authentically snobby character in the absurd Austenland vacation spot, allowed for great emotional swings to humor.All in all, when you plan to be board and instead find yourself laughing plenty, you have to thank the writers and producers.

I'm not the world's most zealous Janeite - I cannot seem to get my head and heart around liking Mansfield Park...;-) - but I am a Janeite nonetheless, and this was rather wonderful - there, only true Janeites will understand what I mean by that.I do not read fan fiction about Austen characters, I rather re-read the original, there is always something new to discover <3.But I am not a purist, I am open to new adaptations, I believe in freedom of art and taste - and also in freedom of speech, and this is just a sorry little film that does not work on almost all levels...Of course the title attracts a Janeite like a moth to the light, though thank goodness it turned out to be just mildly irritating in its false light and did not cause me mortal damage...The last 15 - 20 minutes do redeem it a bit, but there was so much amiss with the film from the beginning that that was not nearly enough, besides, throughout the film I was saying, 'JJ! How could you!!!' ^^I know cross-casting is done in Austen film adaptations, but at least Colin played a Darcy every time ^^, and JLM as Mr Knightley makes me easily forget the only-glimpsed-at Bertram (which I don't care for too much anyway, as stated above...), and Blake Ritson played two completely different characters (one of them again involving the for me ingnorable MP....forgive me, better-Janeites-than-I...:-))...but my favourite Henry Tilney posing as Darcy and then again not and then this 'Jane' NOT falling for him when he was perfectly in character...that alone, apart from the very flat script and ridiculous end-product, that alone I could not forgive!! -- mostly JJ....^^ (at least he did a good job).So, for this Janeite, this did not work and was a little distasteful to the senses.I am not even sure if I should pose the obvious questions/state the glaring faults: too little introduction to the lead character, much too rushed, much too flat, what WAS Austenland supposed to be, really? Why did they have different names, or were a conglomeration of Austen characters I did not feel any inclination to even try sorting out? The chauffeur? Are we at Downton Abbey now? So much made no sense, too little was properly introduced or set up, this was a hollow endeavor.The only true thing portrayed - again, with too little adequate singularisation or punchlines - was the tedium of the female Regency aristocrats, a fact mentioned in the bonus material of 1995 P&P.No, no, no!!!--- Shall I say it? Yes, I shall: Badly done! (though quoting Jane somehow seems sacrilege to be using even as commentary on this drivel....harsh words, but the truth)