Review of Austenland (2013) by Thomas W — 16 Jan 2014

It is probably safe to say I was not the target audience for this underwhelming romantic comedy starring Keri Russell (Waitress, The Upside of Anger) as a Jane Austen obsessed American named Jane Hayes who spends her lifetime savings on an Austen-themed getaway in Britain with hopes that one-or-more of her novel-inspired fantasies will come true.

Jane quickly realizes her life savings don't stretch very far as she booked herself a "budget" getaway while all of the other "lucky ladies" at the retreat live it up with "upgraded amenities" such as handsome suitors, posh costumes and fantastic foods.

But like a true Austen heroine, Jane refuses to allow the size of her credit card limit to ruin her fantasy holiday and she vows to make the most out of her time at Austenland ... even after she concludes that the retreat is attended by sad, sorry individuals willing to part ways with their fortunes so that sweet nothings can be whispered to them by a staff of well-paid, handsome gigolos who will say anything to make a woman feel special .

.. or get another $50 bonus from their employer. A snobby, grand dame (Jane Seymour - Live and Let Die, Wedding Crashers) keeps everything moving along and the champagne flowing as she tries to dupe her guests out of as much money as her men can muster.

As the camp's Darcy (JJ Feild - Captain America) begins falling for the camp's Lizzie Bennett (that would be Jane), what can possibly come from a love paid for at a bargain price?! I believe the concept here is an original one but the inexperience of first-time director Jerusha Hess (from Olathe, KS) is highly apparent and unfortunate.

Jennifer Coolidge (Legally Blonde), Bret McKenzie (The Hobbit), Georgia King (The Duchess) and James Callis ('Battlestar Galactica') co-star in this film I wish had lived up to its potential.