Film Review: Austenland

For a masterpiece full of deep intellectual insights that leave you pensive and enlightened upon its conclusion (like a Jane Austen novel), look past "Austenland." But to have a good laugh and swoon over attractive men, it may fit the bill. The film will undoubtedly elicit at least a chuckle from even the most austere audience members.

"Austenland" tells the story of Jane Hayes (Keri Russell), a still-single, 30-something New Yorker with a rather unhealthy obsession with all things Jane Austen. Her preoccupation spurs her to spend her life's savings on a trip to an English resort promising a full immersion into Austen-style living. It comes complete with corsets, a lot of sitting and needlepointing, trays of elaborate bite-sized desserts, more sitting, a ball and more needlepointing. But first and foremost, it includes paid actors, hired to give the lady guests a proper romance (without the sex of course—it is a tasteful institution). Because no real man lives up to Jane’s 'Mr. Darcy standards,' the opportunity to spend a week with her fantasy men from Austen’s novels seems irresistible. However, once she arrives at the manor, she finds that the Austen lifestyle may not be all she had imagined (surprise surprise).

While all the cast members are impeccably suited for their particular characters, their scripted roles are by no means outstanding. Upon Jane’s arrival, she meets another guest (Jennifer Coolidge) who delivers her typical slapstick, bawdy comedy. I will admit, I did find myself “laughing out loud” several times during this film due to her performance, but her jokes miss as frequently as they hit. Bret McKenzie, who plays a stablehand on the manor grounds, provides little more than his physical charm and New Zealand accent, which appear to be the only thing the script demands of him. With all of the characters delivering such aggressive and boisterous performances, I found myself welcoming the presence of J. J. Feild who portrayed an actor at the resort under the pseudonym of 'Mr. Henry Nobley.' His sincere and subtle performance, along with Russell’s endearing presence, was a nice reprieve from the constant stream of slapstick comedy.

As a rom-com, the film should be judged on its rom just as much as its com. The romance is unpredictable and is therefore an appreciated change from the clichéd romantic comedy where we wait almost two hours for the two main characters to get together. However, without the lengthy expectation of a happily ever after, the romance of "Austenland" seems to be lost, becoming more of a surprise than a sentimental moment.