Film Review – Austenland

Based on the novel by Shannon Hale, “Austenland” arrives with a premise
ripe with potential. With opportunities for satire and romance, while
giving period film tropes a thorough pantsing, the material appears
ideal for screen exploration, yet in the hands of first-time director
Jerusha Hess, “Austenland” is unsteady and unsure of itself. While Jane
Austen fanatics will likely delight in the unabashed fandom of all
things Mr. Darcy, the feature just isn’t up to snuff, often caught
floundering with easy lay-up jokes while playing into Austen formula
instead of dissecting its intoxicating quality. The picture has charm
and a bright lead performance from Keri Russell, but it doesn’t come
together as cohesively as it should.
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