Austenland

"No, you make me nervous"

Jane Hayes (Russell) is a huge Jane Austen fan.  After getting dumped by her boyfriend, she decides to spend all of her savings on a trip to Austenland, a British resort that offers total immersion in the Regency era.  The resort is run by Mrs. Wattlesbrook (Seymour) who requires that all guests leave behind anything that is out of the period, like cell phones, to fully experience a week in the Regency era.  They are given new names and backstories and are courted by actors in costume.  The week culminates in a grand ball.

Jane is given the pseudonym of Jane Erstwhile and is joined by Miss Elizabeth Charming (Coolidge) and Miss Amelia Heartwright (King).  Their time is spent in the company of Mrs. Wattlesbrook, her husband (Vansittart), and the actors: Colonel Andrew (Callis), bored Mr. Henry Nobley (Feild), and Captain George East (Whittle).  Each of the actors fills a role, and is to court one of the ladies, but Jane feels drawn to stable man Martin (McKenzie).  Can she find true love?



I have loved Jane Austen novels since high school / college.  At this point I've only read Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.  I have plans to read her other novels (I've seen film versions of Emma, but I don't know much about the others), but haven't done it yet.  I am by no means an expert, but I enjoy her works.

The film is based on the 2007 novel "Austenland" by Shannon Hale.  Hale wrote the novel, as a fan, for major Austen fans.  The novel was popular and caught the attention of director Jerusha Hess (Napoleon Dynamite), and author Stephenie Meyer, who stepped in as a producer.

It is an entertaining chick flick with a likeable cast.  Keri Russell is a strong lead, with some funny moments.  J.J. Feild is a strong Darcy-esque character, and works well here.  Jennifer Coolidge is hilarious, if a bit over the top.  Georgia King is also over the top, which just makes everything a little more ludicrous, but it works.  There are lots of laughs and it is just a fun, care-free flick.

Austenland (2013) 97 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for some suggestive content and innuendo
Director: Jerusha Hess
Starring: Keri Russell as Jane Hayes
J.J. Feild as Mr. Henry Nobley
Bret McKenzie as Martin
Jennifer Coolidge as Miss Elizabeth Charming
James Callis as Colonel Andrew
Georgia King as Miss Amelia Heartwright
Ricky Whittle as Captain George EastJane Seymour as Mrs. Wattlesbrook
Rupert Vansittart as Mr. Wattlesbrook