The Jane Austen Book Club is an entertaining and interesting film, commonly termed a “chick flick”. This film proves though, that the term does not have to be a derogatory one. The film is well-made and well-acted. This is a film made for an audience of mostly women, but I think guys can enjoy the film as well. All credit should go to the excellent ensemble cast of strong and likable female characters. The standouts in the cast include Maria Bello (as a lonely woman who enjoys the company of pets over people), Emily Blunt, and Amy Brenneman (from the popular series “Grey’s Anatomy”). There are a few guys in the film and the standout is Hugh Dancy, a nice guy who loves science fiction novels and doesn’t know much about Jane Austen’s books. He is invited to the club by Bello’s character in hopes of setting him up with another member of the book club who is recently divorced.
The characters in the film have struggles that parallel the struggles of the characters in Austen’s novels, and at times that feels clever and organic, and other times it feels forced. It is obviously there to show the timeless qualities of the novels Austen wrote and why the themes remain timeless to this day. “The Jane Austen Book Club” is about five women and one man who meet once a month for six months to discuss each of Austen’s novels as we follow their struggles and attempts to connect with each other and other people in a modern age of cold technology. The DVD itself is excellent and has some very good extras. The DVD transfer is very clear and so is the sound. There are several extras that will appeal to fans of the films and to Austen herself. The disc includes a nice making of featurette and some deleted scenes, but the best extra is about the life of Jane Austen. The featurette runs around 20 minutes and takes a look back at her life and novels. Several historians appear to give their insights on her remarkable life.
“The Jane Austen Book Club” is a “click flick” with class. It encourages reading, something rare but wonderful in movies these days. Guys shouldn’t be afraid to rent it and women will probably love it. The acting is excellent and the film moves well and is always interesting and entertaining. Some of the twists are a bit melodramatic, but that is part of the fun. I recommend “The Jane Austen Book Club,” and despite not having a long run in theatres, I have a feeling the DVD will be quite successful. It’s a sleeper film that deserves a bigger following than it currently has.Â
Film Grade:Â B
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