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.
Comment
11/16/07
The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)
65 %
Reviews Counted: 108 Fresh: 70 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.
Rated: 12A
Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins
Theatrical Release: 16-11-2007
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: there's Sylvia (Amy Brenneman), whose husband has just left her for another woman, and her daughter... [More]
Genre: Romance, Women, Based On A Novel, Comedy
Starring: Kathy Baker, Maria Bello, Marc Blucas, Emily Blunt, Amy Brenneman
Director: Robin Swicord
Screenwriter: Robin Swicord
Producer: John Calley, Julie Lynn, Diana Napper
Composer: Aaron Zigman
Screenwriter: Robin Swicord
Producer: John Calley, Julie Lynn, Diana Napper
Composer: Aaron Zigman
Reviews
THIS beautifully acted story is, underneath it all, a fairly formulaic chick flick.
11/16/07
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.
11/16/07
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.
11/16/07
Top Critic
This is a rom-com that tries to be sassy and true but ends up ridiculously unlike any kind of reality at all.
11/15/07
A twittering soap opera about five Californian women using Jane as an agony aunt for their love problems.
11/15/07
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.
11/15/07
Top Critic
The women are so seemingly at ease in their roles that the movie drifts towards its happy-ever-after finale without a missed beat.
11/15/07
Top Critic
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.
11/15/07
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.
11/14/07
Top Critic
A drippy chick-flick about six Sacramentans who find their lives mirroring the English novelist’s fictions.
11/14/07
Just fine in a sentimental, mainstream kind of way. Although by constantly referencing Austen’s sharp wit and characterisation, this can only ever come up short in comparison.
11/14/07
Top Critic
Beyond the premise, there's nothing too surprising about this film from writer/director Robin Swicord, but it is perfectly agreeable.
11/06/07
Top CriticClick to read the article
10/06/07
There's the germ of an interesting idea here, plus a terrific ensemble cast, but it's reduced down to a predictable story, simplistic script and only adequate direction.
09/20/07
... 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 ...
07/05/08
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.
04/16/08
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.
02/28/08
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.
02/20/08
Related Forums
(2007)-"The Jane Austen Book Club" gets released theatrically TODAY, Sept. 21st!!!
by: ReelReviewer.com 9/26/07
by: ReelReviewer.com 9/26/07
(2007)-THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB awaits release date ... read the book till then?
by: REEL_REVIEWER 1/15/07
by: REEL_REVIEWER 1/15/07
(2007)-THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB awaits release date ... read the book till then?
by: REEL_REVIEWER 1/15/07
by: REEL_REVIEWER 1/15/07
(2007)-THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB awaits release date ... read the book till then?
by: REEL_REVIEWER 1/15/07
by: REEL_REVIEWER 1/15/07
(2007)-THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB awaits release date ... read the book till then?
by: REEL_REVIEWER 1/15/07
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