This is a chick-flick's chick flick - - a post-modern reading of Jane Austen through the fictional filmed study of a reading club's study of reading Jane Austen.

Of course, the whole enterprise can't fail to benefit from riding piggyback on Jane's superlative novels themselves... as a matter of fact, if earlier this summer in August you watched Becoming Jane, then went to see The Jane Austen Book Club this October, and then were somehow inspired to re-read (or indeed, read for the first time) Jane's six novels in these coming winter months - - you would surely be wiser about love than you were way back in in June.

The acting is solid - - I mean c'mon! - - Emily Blunt, hot off her Summer of Love performance, and then propelled by her scene stealing tour de force in last year's Prada - - and by stealing, I mean stealing from the pro's with Meryl Streep, for one, being unembarrassedly mugged. And then there's Maria Bello, reprising her role from A History of Violence, here as the ice/dog queen, and then Hugh Dancy as the Jane Austen everyman (that guy hasn't got nearly enough attention for the solid work he's done in movie's like Ella Enchanted and Basic Instinct 2.

A very nicely structured movie that is clearly a labor of love borne by writer/director Robin Swicord.

7 out of 5.

(...much higher if it inspires you to delve into the whole Jane Austin Experience...)

Hugh Dancy's solid work in Basic Instinct 2? Sorry .

But I have come to like him lately, with movies like Evening and now this. Of course, I haven't seen this one yet, but am going Saturday night and I hear he gives one of the top three performances in it. Can't wait to see the movie. I love Blunt.

I don't see your review in the BI2 thread - - did you even see it?

Yes, he gave it a 4/10 (D+).

I still don't see his review over there, but I see that you, movies35, gave it a 7/10 - - what was your opinion of Hugh Dancy's work in Basic Instinct 2?

His review isn't posted here, it was on another movie board.

And I don't remember what his performance was like. I haven't seen it since theaters.

I didn't bother with a real review because it wasn't deserving . And this is coming from someone who really wanted to see it and expected a major guilty pleasure.

Anyway:

THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB - 7/10 ( B )

Really enjoyed it. Was tempted to give it a B+ but came to my sense and sensibility . Still, it's very breezy entertainment and a good time with good performances. My friend I saw it with enjoyed it too.

Watched this again tonight and I really enjoyed. It plays even better on DVD. Again, I'm tempted to give it a B+. It's more tempting than when I saw it in theaters. It might eventually get one.

I love Hugh Dancy in this movie. His character is so charming.

i really hated the trailer for this. it made me want to chop my own balls off.

you and me both

Just finished it and I really enjoyed it. It was cute and never boring, though it could have used a bit of trimming. The stuff with Blunt's mother was especially unneeded. Still, it was really enjoyable and I definitely recommend it.

7/10 ( B )

This was a great little gem. It's a shame that it never found an audience theatrically, for it seems like the kind of chick flick that would have done well with a bit of promotion. It's cliched and predictable, but amusing and heartfelt as well. And the performances are all wonderful. Hugh Dancy is very charming, Maria Bello does a great job, and Amy Brenneman is also strong. The best performances, however, come from an adorable Maggie Grace and the stunning Emily Blunt - delivering another scene-stealing performance to add to her repetoire. Anyways, I'd definitely recommend this one. B+

I walked out before I got the urge to chop off my nuts. I can sit through most chick flicks but this was the mf'er of chick flicks.

So the castrato choir has spoken! (None of them having seen the movie of course.)

If I were reading this thread to decide whether to watch the film, I'd definitely listen to these guys over the other posters who've seen it.

B/B+


What's with all the urges to chop off your balls, guys? It wasn't that bad/pro-feminist...

It was a solid and enjoyable flick that surprised me quite a bit. The cast ensemble is pretty great. Emily Blunt pretty much steals the show here once again with herperformance. She does cry a bit too much for my taste here, but her character is given more development than any other and it works well too. I liked how her relationship with her husband was portrayed. As for the other cast members, most of them were pretty strong. I wasn't too fond of Maggie Grace's character. Amy Brenneman and Jimmy Smits were pretty great and had some good chemistry. I liked seeing them back together at the end. Hugh Dany delivered a fine performance as well. Listening to him comparing Jane Austen's work to Star wars is just hilarious.

There are several quite sappy moments and the very ending is so clichéd, sappy and corny that it's cringe-inducing. That said, the journey there is pretty good, bolstered by fine performance (Emily Blunt really needs to become morer famous), some nice humorous touches and situations that feel quite real to boot. I enjoyed it.