Jane Austen Month: Review: The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)

I don't really want to spend too much time on this one. I didn't like it, and not even in a fun rant-inducing way. I like it even less now that Wix just deleted the full article I wrote, and is making me write it again.

There are six main characters in this film who are members of the same book club, in which each member takes their turn to represent one of Jane Austen's six official novels at each monthly meeting. There is little plot here other than that, it's more a character driven piece. Therefore, I let's look at these characters to see where this film went wrong for me.

Bernadette - Played by Kathy Baker, her character is apparently tied to Pride and Prejudice. I think this is because she considers herself to be the most romantic of the group, although her love life doesn't actually reflect the story at all. She's fine, an optimistic character who wants to bring people together. If I had to know one of these women in real life, I would hope it would be Bernadette as she's the best of a bad bunch. However, apart from slight eccentricities in her character, she doesn't add much to anything.

Sylvia - Played by Amy Brenneman, who I'm sure has probably been great in other films, but here she got on my nerves. Sylvia cries a lot in this film, and Brenneman just cannot do it. She's one of those annoying actors who when they try to cry they instead look like they're smiling the whole time and trying to force the tears out somehow. I don't believe her character's happily ever after would work out in real life either, and I don't like the decision made with it. The Austen book she represents is Mansfield Park. The protagonist in that, Fanny, is notorious for being the most irritating heroine in Austen's work. Funny how that connection worked out.

Prudie - Played by Emily Blunt. The Jane Austen novel she represents is Persuasion. I really don't like this character, and it's a shame to dislike Emily Blunt. She's a snobby French teacher in her mid-twenties, infatuated by her young (to the point of possibly being underage) flirtatious male student. She is in a lacklustre marriage, and has the tragic backstory of a drug-addict, hippy mother who doesn't have much screen time. Prudie acts cold around everyone because of her education giving her a superiority complex, but perhaps she is this way because of her past making her standards for others unrealistically high because she's been hurt in the past. Still, it’s hard to warm to a character who seems so stiff and plain. This character ends up with a similar resolution to Sylvia's, and I don't like it here either, though it is marginally better.

Allegra - Played by Maggie Grace, this character’s book is Sense and Sensibility. I find that Grace's portrayal of her was fine, but the way that this character is written irks me. She's a lesbian thrill seeker who is very attractive to other lesbians. She dates one woman and then dumps her when she finds out that the woman was taking Allegra's childhood anecdotes and working them into stories she wanted to publish, without telling Allegra. It's okay though, because after another thrill seeking adventure, she ends up dating the doctor who helped her. This plotline could have been one of the more interesting aspects of the film, but Allegra comes across as incredibly bratty throughout the film and it’s grating. This is further confirmed as Allegra also has the plotline of disliking Prudie. The pair don't get on for the majority of the film, but then there is a scene where Prudie runs off to the toilet crying and Allegra insists that she will be the one to go after her. Why? We don't see this scene, we don't get to see any bond growing between them. Yet they seem to be on excellent terms by the end of the film. There was no development to this. It's just poor writing that is confusing and underwhelming.

Jocelyn - Arguably the main character, played by Maria Bello. Jocelyn's Austen book is Emma, and hers is the most distinguishably connected to her character, as like Emma, she also plays matchmaker, here between Grigg and Sylvia. Jocelyn is very single, breeds dogs and isn't attracted to Grigg. That is her character.

Her character arc also resembles Pride and Prejudice in that like Elizabeth, she has to get over her prejudice against a man who is attracted to her and learns to like him back. I'm really grasping here though, there isn't much else to say about her.

Grigg - Played by Hugh Dancy. Grigg's Austen novel is Northanger Abbey. Despite his stupid name, Grigg is by far the most likeable character in this film. He is made all the more favourable when you see how all the women in this film are against him for no particular reason for the majority of the film. They treat him like an idiot because he -wait for it, it's truly quite shocking- has never read Jane Austen. And he likes science fiction novels. And he likes to ride his bike to places instead of drive. What a WEIRDO. Grigg is infatuated with Jocelyn from the moment they meet in a lift, and I don't really see one. While I would say that Jocelyn is the most likeable of the female characters, she doesn't treat Grigg well and it bothers me too much. Perhaps it would have been more understandable (granted, in a very shallow way) if they had cast a middle-aged, not conventionally appealing man. It's Hugh Dancy though, a good looking man and very endearing here. A running circumstance (because "joke" doesn't seem to fit here, and I can't think of another way to phrase it) is that Grigg is happily reading all of Jane Austen's novels to impress Jocelyn, while continually trying to get her to read an Ursula K. Le Guin novel. Jocelyn seems irritated by this and keeps saying she'll get to it just to put him off. As someone who loves getting book recommendations from others and sees it as a way to learn about people through their favourite novels, it's sad to see. However, if Grigg had to end up with one of these women, I can admit that Jocelyn is the best choice.

Also, I think someone who has never read a Jane Austen book is likely to be quite lost watching this film because there are very specific references made to each novel. By trying to be smart, this film frequently comes across as dumb and also manages to make the viewer feel the same way, which is never acceptable.

Overall, these characters and their lives are all rather bland, making a dull film. It’s a shame that a film without much wit or originality has Austen’s name tied to it.

THE SCOREBOARD

Chick Flick Check List Elements: 1 (+5), 2, 4, 5, 7 (+2), 13, 19, 21, 22, 29, 30, 42 (+3), 45, 50, 54 (+2), 56, 57, 60, 61,

Total: 27

Is this really a chick flick or will men like it too? Definite chick flick.

Would I recommend this film? No.

Quote of the film: “I thought if I read your favourite books that you would read mine. But no... no, no. You just want to be obeyed. That's why you have dogs.” – Grigg.

Film rating: 3.5/10