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Movies / On DVD / The Jane Austen Book Club
The Jane Austen Book Club

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The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)

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Reviews Counted:110

Fresh:72

Rotten:38

Average Rating:6.1/10

Consensus: Though at times formulaic and sentimental, Jane Austen Book Club succeeds on the strength of its likable ensemble cast. Even those not familiar with Jane Austen's work may find much to enjoy this lighthearted romance.

Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins

Genre: Romance, Women, Based On A Novel, Theatrical Release

Theatrical Release:Sep 21, 2007 Limited

Box Office: $3,334,613

Synopsis: Life imitates art in this adaptation of Karen Joy Fowler's bestselling novel about a book group reading the work of Jane Austen. Each of the people in the group is at a different stage of life:... Life imitates art in this adaptation of Karen Joy Fowler's bestselling novel about a book group reading the work of Jane Austen. Each of the people in the group is at a different stage of life: there's Sylvia (Amy Brenneman), whose husband has just left her for another woman, and her daughter Allegra (Maggie Grace), who's looking for a woman herself. Bernadette (Kathy Baker) has six marriages under her belt, while Jocelyn's (Maria Bello) most significant relationship is with her dog. New to the group of friends are Prudie (Emily Blunt), a teacher who is unhappy with her marriage, and Grigg (Hugh Dancy), the group's only man--a sci-fi fan invited by Jocelyn to take Sylvia's mind off her failed marriage. As they make their way through Austen's novels, they discover that the writer's work is just as relevant in the 21st century as it was in the 19th. The group has its own Emma, and a sparring would-be couple bears striking resemblance to Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB succeeds largely thanks to the strength of its cast. Bello is better known for dramatic roles in films such as THE COOLER and THE HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, but she does an excellent job with this film's lighter tone. As know-it-all Prudie, Blunt steals just as many scenes as she did in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA. Though it might seem like a clubhouse with a "No Boys Allowed" sign, the men in the movie hold their own with the female cast. Jimmy Smits, Marc Blucas, and Kevin Zegers play supporting roles, but it's Dancy who deserves the most praise. As Griggs struggles to woo one of the women in the group, Dancy easily wins the heart of the audience with his geeky charm. [More]

Starring: Kathy Baker, Maria Bello, Marc Blucas, Emily Blunt

Starring: Kathy Baker, Maria Bello, Marc Blucas, Emily Blunt, Amy Brenneman, Hugh Dancy, Maggie Grace, Jimmy Smits, Kevin Zegers, Lynn Redgrave, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Gwendoline Yeo, Nancy Travis

Director: Robin Swicord

Director: Robin Swicord
Screenwriter: Robin Swicord
Producer: John Calley, Julie Lynn, Diana Napper
Composer: Aaron Zigman
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

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Release:

Feb 5, 2008

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Reviews for The Jane Austen Book Club

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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
N/R

Jeffrey Gantz

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 23 2009 03:16 AM

Boston Phoenix

tomato

Steve Biodrowski

...not a genre film but...deserves mention for portraying a character who is a fan of science-fiction but is not characterized as a hopeless geek...

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 10 2009 11:46 AM

Cinefantastique

N/R

Bob Mondello

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 05:54 AM

NPR.org

tomato
7/10

Heather Huntington

A surprisingly successful, un-Hallmark-ified take on the traditional chick flick.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 27 2008 12:14 PM

ReelzChannel.com

splat
0/4

Walter Chaw

Austen wrote six novels and The Jane Austen Book Club is about six people who meet to discuss them over the course of six months. 666. Coincidence? I think not.

Full Review Source: | comment 2 Comments | Apr., 16 2008 07:50 PM

Film Freak Central

tomato
6/10

Brandon Fibbs

The Jane Austen Book Club is both a testament to Austen's continued relevance and a fine example of classroom particulars converted into entertaining banter without losing any oomph.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 28 2008 08:38 AM

Colorado Springs Gazette

splat
66/100

Brian Webster

If you're prepared to sit through a lot of mediocrity in search of a few worthwhile moments and a couple of actors who rise above the material, then you might be satisfied.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 20 2008 02:17 PM

Apollo Guide

tomato

Urban Cinefile Critics

Breaking up, jealousies, match making and a bid for second chances are the themes of this vibrant and uplifting film that explores life, love and desire.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 24 2008 10:55 PM

Urban Cinefile

tomato
B

Robert Roten

Charming, funny and romantic.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 16 2008 12:41 PM

Laramie Movie Scope

splat
2/5

Matthew Turner

These ladies have too much time on their hands if the only thing they worry about is finishing their reading assignment in time for their next bout of well-heeled lusting.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 16 2007 09:48 AM

thelondonpaper

splat
2/5

Anthony Quinn

The contrivance is horrible, the schmaltz unpardonable.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 16 2007 09:34 AM

Independent

tomato
3/5

THIS beautifully acted story is, underneath it all, a fairly formulaic chick flick.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 16 2007 09:25 AM

Sun Online

tomato
3/5

Positively marinated in oestrogen, this is aimed at middle-aged females – the more unhappily married the better – with the cardiganed cast spending much of the running time drinking tea on verandas and moaning about men over their knitting.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 16 2007 08:59 AM

Daily Mirror [UK]

splat

Tim Robey

The Jane Austen Book Club, based on Karen Joy Fowler's bestseller, offers a distinctive vision of hell - a plane of being where there are only six novels that matter, and they're consulted like all-purpose agony aunts.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 16 2007 08:17 AM

Daily Telegraph

splat
2/5

Derek Malcolm

This is a rom-com that tries to be sassy and true but ends up ridiculously unlike any kind of reality at all.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 15 2007 09:54 AM

This is London

splat

Nigel Andrews

A twittering soap opera about five Californian women using Jane as an agony aunt for their love problems.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 15 2007 09:13 AM

Financial Times

splat
2/5

Hannah Forbes Black

Comfortable if unchallenging, watching this gentle, female-oriented film is a bit like curling up in bed with a book whose ending you already know. No alarms and no surprises.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 15 2007 08:03 AM

Channel 4 Film

splat
3/5

Kevin Maher

The women are so seemingly at ease in their roles that the movie drifts towards its happy-ever-after finale without a missed beat.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 15 2007 06:44 AM

Times [UK]

tomato
3/5

Matthew Turner

Average romantic drama that stays watchable thanks to its excellent cast, though it's neither as emotionally engaging nor as clever as it thinks it is.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 15 2007 03:15 AM

ViewLondon

tomato
3/5

Angie Errigo

Quite a nice little relationship comedy-drama, but essentially for an audience of what the French charmingly call ‘women of a certain age’. Totally not the Superbad set, then.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 14 2007 09:39 AM

Empire Magazine

 
 
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