Here’s the thing. I saw Austenland, did Austenland press & did a terrible job of pacing the Austenland posts throughout the week. So basically what I’m saying is… sorry for the Austenland dump I’m throwing at you today. Because that’s basically what it’s going to be. I hope you don’t get too tired of hearing about it because we have some FAB interviews coming up with the director Jerusha Hess and producer Stephenie Meyer. Why am I not posting them NOW, with the review? Because transcribing audio is the worst.thing.of.all.time. that’s why!
This post is coming to you from me & our pal Elena from Fangirlish! And there are no real spoilers!
We got a chance to see Austenland & thought it was a fun, hilarious movie that sticks pretty true to the novel by Shannon Hale (She was one of the screenwriters) but adds some much needed elements & changes to tell a better story on the big screen.
Austenland follows 3-something, single Jane Hayes (Keri Russell), who has a secret obsession with all things Jane Austen. Jane decides to spend her life savings on a trip to an English resort catering to Austen–crazed women. The resort surrounds the women with male-actors whose main goal is to fulfill the desires of the Austen-obsessed. Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency–era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined!
Here are top 5 things you need to know about Austenland:
How hot JJ Feilds is.
JJ plays Mr. Nobley- the Mr. Darcy character of the film. He is tart and pretentious and all kinds of adorable. You can’t help but love Mr. Nobley even when he’s being a bit of a d-bag.
Plus during a fight with Martin (Bret McKenzie) he has one of the most laughable lines in the film yelling that Martin, “Couldn’t even get a role in The Hobbit” Hilarious considering Bret is a New Zelander (and has Hobbit hair)
In typical Bret McKenzie/Flight of the Conchords fashion…
He breaks into song during a run-in with Jane and basically wins her over… because what woman doesn’t love when a dude serenades her with a slow jam, amiright?
He’s not crying….
But we were waiting for him to sing Business Time the whole time:
Jennifer Coolidge is hilarious
Shannon Hale had Jennifer Coolidge in mind when she wrote the character of Ms. Charming- and it’s easy to see why!
She’s everything the English hate about Americans and has some of the most laugh-out-loud lines in the film. And according to our interview with Stephenie & Jerusha she improvised a TON of it. Making her role even more hilarious, Ms. Charming, despite being at Jane Austen camp, knows very little about Jane Austen!
Keri Russell gets the guy
Spoiler alert. This isn’t a story about a Colin-Firth-as-Mr-Darcy obsessed 30-something who goes away, gets over her obsession and finds happiness in herself & her singleness. While I was rooting for that during my first read of the book, ultimately (and deep down) I wanted her to get the guy. This IS a romantic comedy. Wouldn’t be so romantic if she ended up alone…
The question is WHICH guy. Throughout the film you aren’t sure who Jane might end up with.
There is Martin, the adorable “gardener” who isn’t supposed to speak directly to the guests, but of course disobeys the rules when it comes to Jane.
And there’s Nobley- the arrogant, irritating, incredibly handsome actor who is at Austenland to fall in pretend love with one of the guests.
Are either of the guys sincere? It’s a question you’ll be asking yourself throughout the entire movie.
The 80s feel Good Music
The music had us singing at the top of our lungs into our microphone (hairbrush) and doing “Mariah hands”
You’re going to have the DVD/Blu-Ray playing in the background when you get ready to go out on a Friday night- to pump you up!
To recap…
We’re going to say we think you should leave the men at home for this one, ladies. Going on a girls night out? See Austenland. Taking your mom/grandma/sister out for her birthday? See Austenland. Going on a date with that dude from OK Cupid? Don’t see Austenland.
While this movie had us bent over in laughter from start to finish, we wouldn’t make our man friends sit through it any time soon. But as Elena said, “I will be buying it on DVD… which is like the highest commendation I can give a movie cause I don’t buy DVDs, like, ever.”
Find a upcoming showing near you. Grab a girlfriend or two. Get the large popcorn and diet coke. You deserve it!
Check out all of our Austenland coverage & we’ll have MORE later today.
