Austenland (2013)

To me, this movie is perfection.

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Austenland is a 2013 comedy romance film. Jane, obsessed with Pride and Prejudice, can't seem to find her perfect gentlemen. Mr. Darcy just makes every man who comes into her life seem trivial and boring. Running out of hope, Jane travels to a Jane Austen themed amusement park, hoping to find her perfect gentleman.I cannot say why I enjoyed this so much. There was just something about it that was just so over the top and hilarious, that I couldn't help but laugh and find it funny. The acting was well done, but still over the top, but I'm definitely looking at Keri Russell as an actress to look more at in the future. I was very surprised by her acting skills, even though over the top, she did it well and brought utter life to the character of Jane, and it was absolutely brilliant. I didn't think too much of the rest of the film past Russell's performance. The humour and romance wasn't quite my type or to my enjoyment, but as I said, because it was so over the top, I couldn't help but laugh.However, it's rare that a film does over the top well, and I think Austenland is a perfect example of what can happen when a director gets that right. The actors all worked together, and everything just became perfect for this film in particular. I don't think another rom-com could have pulled it off as well as Austenland did. This is a really good feel good film and I would recommend it to those who love a good rom-com. Although not my style, I could definitely see myself watching this again during a break up or a similar toned part of my life.

I don't understand why this movie got negative review. As loose adaptation, Austenland still fun to watch, and for me, this movie even better than Lost in Austen (I mean, "separating Liz from Darcy?" even for the main character, that's impossible to accept).Jane Hayes character is a realistic one for me. She realize no more addiction to Darcy when she found out about Martin (and the class of package, how the clueless Charming get special treatment "just" because she has money) and Jane still hard to accept when Nobley came to her apartment, although as every romantic movie, of course happy ending on the line.Jennifer Coolidge, amusing as always, and JJ Feild just perfect, he has men in Austen's material, I also love him in Northanger Abbey.Overall it's a good movie, I haven't read the book (and didn't plan to), but as movie, I totally enjoy Austenland.

Jane Hayes (Keri Russell) is obsessed with her namesake Jane Austen and especially Mr. Darcy. She is alone and spends all her savings to participate in an Austen themed estate. The owner Mrs. Wattlesbrook (Jane Seymour) relegates her to be the dumpy Miss Erstwhile. Miss Charming (Jennifer Coolidge) is her fellow American participant except she doesn't anything about Austen. Mr. Henry Nobley (JJ Feild) is one of the characters and the Darcy type. Martin (Bret McKenzie) is the stable hand and isn't part of the play.Writer/director Jerusha Hess made 'Napoleon Dynamite' with her husband. I'm not familiar with the Shannon Hale novel this is based on. Simply put, I like some of the comedy but the romance is too Austenest. In fact, I didn't care much about the romance or the Hollywood ending. The relationship has no chemistry and never given much of a chance in the movie. The comedy works mainly because of Jennifer Coolidge and the quirky behind-the-scenes jabs at the world of Austen. Whenever the facade falls away, there are usually a few laughs.

I'm not the world's most zealous Janeite - I cannot seem to get my head and heart around liking Mansfield Park...;-) - but I am a Janeite nonetheless, and this was rather wonderful - there, only true Janeites will understand what I mean by that.I do not read fan fiction about Austen characters, I rather re-read the original, there is always something new to discover <3.But I am not a purist, I am open to new adaptations, I believe in freedom of art and taste - and also in freedom of speech, and this is just a sorry little film that does not work on almost all levels...Of course the title attracts a Janeite like a moth to the light, though thank goodness it turned out to be just mildly irritating in its false light and did not cause me mortal damage...The last 15 - 20 minutes do redeem it a bit, but there was so much amiss with the film from the beginning that that was not nearly enough, besides, throughout the film I was saying, 'JJ! How could you!!!' ^^I know cross-casting is done in Austen film adaptations, but at least Colin played a Darcy every time ^^, and JLM as Mr Knightley makes me easily forget the only-glimpsed-at Bertram (which I don't care for too much anyway, as stated above...), and Blake Ritson played two completely different characters (one of them again involving the for me ingnorable MP....forgive me, better-Janeites-than-I...:-))...but my favourite Henry Tilney posing as Darcy and then again not and then this 'Jane' NOT falling for him when he was perfectly in character...that alone, apart from the very flat script and ridiculous end-product, that alone I could not forgive!! -- mostly JJ....^^ (at least he did a good job).So, for this Janeite, this did not work and was a little distasteful to the senses.I am not even sure if I should pose the obvious questions/state the glaring faults: too little introduction to the lead character, much too rushed, much too flat, what WAS Austenland supposed to be, really? Why did they have different names, or were a conglomeration of Austen characters I did not feel any inclination to even try sorting out? The chauffeur? Are we at Downton Abbey now? So much made no sense, too little was properly introduced or set up, this was a hollow endeavor.The only true thing portrayed - again, with too little adequate singularisation or punchlines - was the tedium of the female Regency aristocrats, a fact mentioned in the bonus material of 1995 P&P.No, no, no!!!--- Shall I say it? Yes, I shall: Badly done! (though quoting Jane somehow seems sacrilege to be using even as commentary on this drivel....harsh words, but the truth)