Austenland – Film Review
Director: Jerusha Hess
Starring: Keri Russell, JJ Feild, Jennifer Coolidge, Georgia King and Bret McKenzie
Release Date: Sep 27
Assessing a film like Austenland is no easy task as it can be approached from one of many angles. You may watch it as someone who adores the work of Jane Austen and see it as either a type of homage or critique. Or, alternatively, you could watch it as simply a romantic comedy and not care less about the literature aspect. Either way, it still remains a tricky film to analyze, as it there is a lot going on here, and not all of it good.
Obsessed with the works of Jane Austen, and ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in particular, Jane (Russell) travels to a Jane Austen theme park in search for her perfect gentleman. Once she arrives, however, she discovers that living her fantasy may not be what she had always envisioned it to be.
Everyone remembers the famous Colin Firth/Mr Darcy scene, in which he comes out of the pond and gets everyone wet just by standing there. That key scene appears to be what Austenland is hinging on, as opposed to ‘Pride and Prejudice’ as a whole. The romantic element of Jane Austen’s work, and what it means to meet the perfect gentleman in the modern world. And, to give credit where credit is due, it nails that aspect almost perfectly.
Jane arrives at Austenland and is assured a romantic encounter as part of her basic Austenland package. Despite this bordering on male prostitution, there is a genuinely engaging romance at work here, due in no small part to a clever narrative that genuinely weaves in unexpected directions and a very likable cast.
Keri Russell is, to use the Austen lingo, a delight to behold, charming to the nth degree. She may go through all the motions of your typical Romantic Comedy lead (a little ditzy and clumsy, social outcast, ineffably likable), but she does it so well that it’s difficult to fault her on it.
Russell is the standout, but the rest of the cast are just as likable. Georgia King plays Lady Amelia Heartwright, the stereotypical rival,on the basis of being just a little prettier and more stuck-up. The film baits the audience into thinking that she is nothing more than a smirk in a corset, but when the battle of the ladies really kicks off, she shows her true colours. She’s retains that stereotype, but she twists it in a novel way that adds a little brevity to the scenes.
JJ Feild does a decent job as Henry Nobley also. He channels a bit of Bronte’s Rochester with his grumpy facade, but this can occasionally come across as a little bland when contrasted with the films tone.
And then of course, there’s Bret McKenzie as Martin. In some ways the antithesis of Mr. Darcy, in others, a modernized take on the character, either way, he too gets a dip in the lake in a nod to that scene. It truly is an inspired piece of casting to place him this role, as he is most likely the fantasy of every young girl who has read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in recent years. Irresistibly charming and foppishly good-looking, but with a bit of rebellious streak, he is a perfect counterpart for Russell’s Jane.
As a romantic comedy, these elements are all perfectly balanced, and there is even a suggestion of some truly intelligent critique in the films final message. However, this all gets a bit thrown off by the inclusion of Jennifer Coolidge as Miss Elizabeth Charming, a character who conveniently conforms to all of Miss Coolidge’s previous roles i.e. Stiflers Mom.
In essence, Coolidge is the diluting factor of Austenland, the modern American element that reminds us that this is not a period drama but a film to be enjoyed by everyone. She is also, unfortunately, the driving force of the ‘comedy’ in the film, and this largely falls into her attempts at a British accent, which is funny the first time, and how much she wants to get the ride, which is never funny.
It’s a shame that the film attempts to project onto such a broad audience. This becomes very apparent towards the films conclusion, which is a bit of letdown. There are definitely a few sly winks and nods towards other Austen works, and this should still please Austen’s many fans.
However, while it does go so far as to lampoon the treatment of Jane Austen’s seminal work in its overall concept, this nonetheless still appears to be aimed a little bit more towards the ‘Pride, Prejudice and Zombies’ crowd rather than at the Jane Austen Book Club.
A solid romance story, with some interesting ideas, but failing to reach greatness in its attempt to appeal to everyone.
Score: 3/5
Written by Stephen Hill
