Review of The Jane Austen Book Club (2007) by Timothy S — 20 Feb 2012

"The Jane Austen Book Club" isn't a great movie. It isn't going to win any awards or change the world. It doesn't have anything important to say. But it is a very watchable, sometimes sweet and marginally entertaining drama with good ensemble acting and some decent writing. There are some effectively dramatic moments here, and some genuinely touching romantic moments.

Hugh Dancy is ordinarily an actor I greatly dislike, but here he's quite good and his burgeoning relationship with the beautiful Maria Bello is the film's highlight. Bello has never before been this luminescent on film, and she's a great asset. There are also a lot of good scenes involving Emily Blunt who made such a splash last year in her film debut "The Devil Wears Prada". Judging from these two films, Blunt definitely has what it takes to make it in the business. There are moments here where you just feel for her.

Just because of the romantic aspects of the film and the sympathetic female characters, it's obviously geared towards women. But as a guy who's never read Austen (or for those who think it's the capitol of Texas, as the movie jokes), I can honestly say that a lot of this worked on me as well. Maybe I was just having a high estrogen day. Much like the recent "Why Did I Get Married?", the plot developments here are predictable but that doesn't make them any less captivating. . Despite the film's convoluted nature, I was hooked.

The characters are likable, and there are good moments throughout "The Jane Austen Book Club". A month later you'll forget you saw it, but while you're watching it, it works.