The Great Austen Problem (Becoming Jane)

I always wondered why British people always had such problems with American actors playing British characters. Luckily (or unluckily), it only took me until the first sentence out of Anne Hathaway's mouth to find out.

Everybody tried to warn me about this movie, really. But with so many fabulous actors, you assume that they have to have some serious merit. Alas, no. To begin with, yes, Ms. Hathaway sounds like somebody with the barest conception of what a real British person sounds like. She hops along with some effort until she suddenly throws an r on at the end of a word ("too-geh-thER"), or other equally obvious mistakes. If only that were the low point of the movie.

It had an utter lack of humor or interest, even in parts I'm fairly certain were supposed to be comical, and forced the audience members to slog along with them through piles of financial angst, insulting criticism towards the only personable characters and sexuality that, no matter how badly you want to relate it to modern days, would never have flown in the period.

Which brings me along to the next unfortunate part of this review: it was yet another case of the writers not knowing their audience. Hordes of female fans (and their mothers, grandmothers, great-grand...well, you get the picture) who routinely turn up for Jane Austen movies expect that type of decorum, class and repression from their entertainment. Instead, this movie seems to set out to see how much sex they can cram into each scene, whether or not it's relevant to the (and I use this term somewhat ironically) action. Another case of trying to play to too wide a demographic--they probably figured that the Austen name would grab the book-types and the sex would entertain the others they dragged with them. Instead it's too boring for the action crowd and too crude for the historical types. And even the historical types may have problems with the lack of plot.

The movie's only likable character is Mr. Austen, who (as previously mentioned) appeared to be in the movie only to bear all the other character's depression, anger, etc., without really having a chance to shine, for his brief vignettes were "always long expected, and always very short." Die hard fans may also like the steady stream of quotes from the books.

All in all, this movie wouldn't be worth the money in a Dollar Theatre. Save yourselves!

Because unlike some other people pretending to be Robin Hood, I can speak with an English accent.

What are you looking at this for? There's nothing here yet.