Movie Review: Austenland

So, yeah, I went to see Austenland. I really wasn't planning to. I am not a huge fan of the Shannon Hale book on which this is based (see my review here). However, my friend really wanted to go and I have a hard time saying no to a movie. So off we went in search of Austen in what I was hoping would be a version of the book without all of the things that annoyed me in the book.

Title: Austenland
Release Date: August 16, 2013 (limited release)
Rating: PG-13

Austenland is the story of Jane, a single thirty-something (Keri Russell) who is obsessed with all things Austen. The obsession goes back to a young age and has only grown over time. She has a life-size Colin Firth Darcy cutout (which I was kind of jealous of), collects teacups and teapots and has a collection of Austen memorabilia that would rival an Austen museum.  Needing a change in her life, Jane cashes in her savings for a trip to Austenland, a full immersion Jane Austen camp if you will. She expects history and romance and what she gets is something very different.

I enjoyed Austenland more than I thought I would.  While there were still some things about it that I didn't love, overall, it was a fun, if forgettable film. One of the problems I had with the book was that I really didn't like any of the characters, Jane included. However, I found that I liked them much more in the film. Jane's friend, Miss Charming (played by Jennifer Coolidge), while still sex crazed and ridiculous, is also very sweet and earnest. Brett McKenzie was suitably roguish and charming. I don't watch Flight of the Concords so I had no idea that McKenzie was so cute.  And JJ Feild played the Darcy role perfectly and was both taciturn and endearingly awkward.

I wish we could have gone a little deeper into Jane's life and the reasons for her Austen addiction. Jane's obsession with fictional characters has kept her from forming real relationships. But the story never delves beyond her obsession and we never learn why Austen has become such a crutch for her. But I think that's one of the biggest problems with the movie. It doesn't delve very deep and most of the characters are exactly who you expect them to be. Also, for a film about Austen, you don't learn very much about her or her books. You do see how boring life during Austen's time might have been. Needlework and archery can only keep you busy for so long until you start to go stir crazy. Complaints aside, I still had a good time watching Austenland. Kerri Russell is hard not to like and there are plenty of good looking men in breeches to look at. Be sure to stick it out through the credits, as there is a scene at the end that might be my favorite part of the entire movie.

Anyone else see this yet? Did you love it or hate it? Let me know in the comments below!

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Austenland - Audiobook Review

Austenland by Shannon Hale
Read by Katherine Kellgren

Publication date: 29 May 2007 by Bloomsbury Publishing

Audiobook released June 2008 by Macmillan Audio

ISBN 10/13: 0446574503 | 9780446574501
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Audible

Category: Adult Fiction
Keywords: Romance, Jane Austen, chick lit
Format: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, audiobook
Source: Library

Synopsis:

Jane Hayes is your typical single female living on her own in NYC. Except Jane has a secret. She’s in love with Mr. Darcy. Particularly with the Colin Firth version of Mr. Darcy in the BBC miniseries of Pride & Prejudice. While she realizes that Mr. Darcy is not a real person, he is the standard by which she judges all men and, not surprisingly, she has had trouble finding someone to meet her high standards. 

When Jane’s aunt passes away, she leaves in her will an all expenses paid trip for Jane to Pembrook Park, a Jane Austen themed vacation package. Jane decides that this will be a good opportunity for her to live out her Jane Austen fantasy after which, she would put Mr. Darcy behind her and move on with her life. 

Thuy's Review:

I really wanted to like this book. The premise sounded great. As a bit of an Austen groupie myself, the idea of finding romance at a Jane Austen retreat sounds like my dream come true. Unfortunately, Austenland reads like bad chick lit. 

Let’s start with Jane. Unfortunately, I never connected with her. I felt like I should have since we live in very similar circumstances, but she was dramatic and whiny most of the time. Somehow through the course of the book, she gives up her Darcy obsession and opens herself up to the possibility of a real romance. Perhaps her evolution was too subtle for me, but I am still not sure how or why she changed. She was able to stop hiding her Pride & Prejudice DVD so that means something, right? 

Throughout the book there are little snippets about Jane and her previous “boyfriends.” I say boyfriends in quotation marks because this list includes men that Jane has only been out with once or, in one case, knocked on his door with the intention of asking him out. It’s a ridiculous list, with each boyfriend more hilariously awful than the next. I think we’re supposed to believe that, with a list of relationships as awful as these, it’s no wonder that Jane has taken up with the fictional Mr. Darcy. But as a whole, the list is too over the top to be believable, as are Jane’s expectations of these “boyfriends.” 

Out of all the characters, though, I liked Jane the most. She was annoying at times but she could be funny. Mrs. Charming was the stereotypical older woman, desperate for love and attention. (I just saw that Jennifer Coolidge is playing Mrs. Charming in the film adaptation. Real original, people). Mrs. Wattlesbrook was mean and petty. She practically hated Jane just because she wasn’t rich. And of course, we have the prickly Mr. Darcy character played to a tee by Mr. Nobley. None of these characters were very likable or original. 

I also had problems with Pembrook Park itself. I thought it was going to be a fun, themed vacation where Jane Austen enthusiasts came to feel a little closer to Austen and her books. Instead, it was a place where lonely women with money went to find some romance.  Like Jane, I had a real problem reconciling what was real and what was just acting and, therefore, nothing seemed sincere. I am also just sick of all the movies and books that depict single, successful women as unsatisfied with their lives because they need a man/husband to make it complete. They will go to crazy lengths to find their happy endings and, and in this case, are willing to pay a large sum of money for just the illusion of it. 

It’s funny that Jane goes to Pembrook Park to rid herself of her Darcy obsession. While she says that she has moved on and is ready to have a real relationship, she gets her happy ending with a man who is just like Mr. Darcy. In the end, I am not sure if she changes at all. 

Katherine Kellgren narrates Austenland and, while it’s obvious that she is very talented, I wasn’t a huge fan of the audiobook. I think it’s because she has a tendency to do “voices” in her narration. She has an actual, distinct voice for each character. Unfortunately since I didn’t like any of the characters, the voices only added to my irritation, especially the snooty British ones. This is Kellgren’s fault but has more to do with my own issues with the book.

As you can see,. this book just wasn’t for me. If you’re looking for a light read and are a fan of chick lit, you may enjoy this. I’ve heard that Hale’s other books for children/YA are much better and I am willing to give them a try.

 

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Visit the author online at www.squeetus.com and follow her on Twitter @haleshannon