The Jane Austen Book Club

Ok, I’ll admit it (don’t tell anyone) my wife and I are not big Jane Austin fans. Neither of us has read her books. But we enjoy the work of many of the actors/actresses in this film and gave it a try - we come away really enjoying our time spent. So much so we grabbed the film for our streaming library when Amazon had a good deal. It’s a nice story of new friends who come together to form a reading club, focused on - of course - the works of Jane Austin. I’m sure you got that from the title, but what plays out is something of a romance that we (assume) follow Ms. Austin’s flare - broken hearts, risk taken, falling in love with the one you never thought you would... all played charmingly well by the likes of Emily Blunt, Kathy Baker, Maria Bello, and Amy Brenneman. Add in talents such as Jimmy Smits, Kevin Zegers, and Marc Blucas and you’ve got a great cast bringing interesting characters to life. For me, Emily Blunt was a big surprise - I’ve grown into a fan over these last few years, but when I saw her in this film I was surprised - a new direction for her. A little uncomfortable in a way, and intriguing. Admiration complete. Kathy Baker is always fantastic and great to watch. And the other ladies bring on a warm and welcome time with friends. In the end love comes for many, but not all, and we end with a feel good completion - something I appreciate in my entertainment. Jane Austin and friends is a good enough film I knew we’d watch it far more than once... so for future date nights and rainy afternoons we’ve invited over The Jane Austin Book Club.

I started watching the movie for the first time, and realized that I would be missing out on what was being discussed or portrayed in the movie unless I read all of the Jane Austen books. I proceeded to do just that, and was definitely more able to appreciate the plot of the movie and the the discussions. It's a great movie that I've watched multiple times. In addition, I personally enjoy the intro to the movie more than any other movie I can think of. It's showing these people involved in their various mishaps. When you watch the movie again, you realize it's most of the characters in the movie. I guess I shouldn't find the portrayal of other people's little misfortunes funny, but there it is. Another movie that comes to mind is Office Space, with a funny intro along the same line, except on a freeway. It's kind of like: You had a great time on your vacation? Who cares? Oh, you had some mishaps on your vacation? Tell me more!

This is a cute "chick flick". It's something to put on and enjoy while folding the laundry in the afternoon, or while curled up on the sofa, with a dish of ice cream, on Saturday night. I've watched it several times and really enjoy it. Of course, it's not one my husband ever wanted to sit down and watch with me (you say the words "Jane Austen" and he immediately has a million other things to do). But it's one I can enjoy by myself time and time again. I love Jane Austen's books and have seen most of the movies made from them, so this was fun because it focuses on the Jane Austen novels, even though it's not a movie of one of her books. There are some funny parts and the dialog is good. Plus, I love all the references to Jane Austen and her beloved characters. There are some really good actors here as well. I have always liked Amy Brenneman. Kathy Baker does a great job as does Maria Bello. I enjoyed Emily Blunt as well. And Hugh Dancy is just cute! I tried to read the book this movie is based on, but couldn't get into it (I gave up after a couple of chapters). Odd, because I usually enjoy the book better than the movie, but in this instance I found the book to be too dry and detailed and didn't get to the cute "chick flick" part that I enjoy so much about the movie. This is a cute movie and a really good price. Probably can't find it for a better price than Amazon.

Loved this movie. Warm hearted story. A lot of charismatic actors. All were excellent, but Emily Blunt, Kathy Baker, and Hugh Dancy especially stood out. Script is intelligent and even inspired. This movie might just be a work of genius. The director, Robin Swicord, who wrote the screenplay based on another author's book, no doubt deserves huge credit. There is something fresh like spring about this movie, like a bunch of new flowers bursting into bloom. There is real joy here. The friendship that develops between Emily Blunt's character and Kathy Baker's character is truly beautiful. The several romantic plot lines in the film satisfy. Hugh Dancy has phenomenal male charisma. The integration of Jane Austen's tales into the plot and the dialogue is brilliantly done. Emily Blunt is great throughout (the great script and story get part of the credit, and no doubt the director, Robin Swicord). There is one scene that I think might have originally been written to be humorous -- but if so, Blunt didn't play it that way -- she played it with intense and moving emotion, which worked perfectly, and then the way Kathy Baker's character responds to Emily Blunt's character at that point -- this is near the start of the film -- is already quite moving, as is the friendship that develops, a sort of ideal mother daughter connection, though Blunt's character and Baker's character are not daughter and mother. I'm accustomed to being moved more toward the end of some films, when, say, a romance or other relationship has developed. But in this film fairly early on we are really moved by what we see. Kudos to Blunt, Baker, and director Swicord. Kudos to all the other actors as well. What a generous-hearted, compassionate, intelligent, loving film.

Gleich vorneweg - diese DVD um 9 Euro KAUFEN KAUFEN KAUFEN!!!!! Jeden Cent wert. Diese Story ist ja bekannt, 5 Frauen und 1 Mann gründen einen Buchclub, in dem sie die Bücher von Jane Austen lesen. Soweit so gut. Man bekommt einen wundervollen Film voller Gefühl aber auch erstklassigem Humor. Kein Schenkelklopferhumor sondern mit etwas feinerer Klinge, womit wohl auch Jane Austen sicher ihre Freunde gehabt hätte. Die Charaktäre der Mitglieder des Buchclubs und ihre Lebenssituationen ähneln den Charaktären in den Jane Austen Bücher wohl nicht nur zufällig. Wichtig aber, man muss die Austenromane weder kennen noch lieben um diesen wunderbaren Film zu mögen. Alle Schauspieler, die ich persönlich eher in die 2. oder 3. Schauspielerriege einreihen würde, haben Freude am Spiel, und liefern alle eine erstklassige Leistungen ab. Ich stieß, völlig zufällig auf den Trailer und war sofort begeistert. Nachdem ich dann den Film gesehen hatte, bestätigte sich dieser Eindruck völlig. Ich habe die DVD zu Weihnachten 2009 mehrfach verschenkt, und ausschließlich BEGEISTERTE Rückmeldungen von allen Beschenkten erhalten. Ein toller Nebeneffekt dieses Filmes: er macht wirklich Lust auf's Lesen, oder motiviert hoffentlich so manchen mal wieder ein Buch in die Hand zu nehmen. Es muss ja nicht Jane Austen sein, aber wie hieß es früher mal so schön: Lesen ist Abenteuer im Kopf. Viel Spass also beim DVD-schauen und beim Lesen!

I love this film. it is based on a book of the same name, but, having read it, i prefer the movie. It is set around a group of women, a soon to be reluctant divorcee, a lesbian, a young married, an older single and an even older married a few times, they gel brilliantly. Emily blunt is great, as is Maria Bellio, who plays Jocelyn. They invite a young man into their Jane Austen appreciation book club and to their surprise, he is really into the books, they try to pair him up but with the wrong one, as it turns out. A lovely film, in the genre of The love letter or Marigold hotel, if you like those, you'll love this

Ein sehr schöner Film wie ich finde und genau das was ich gerade gebraucht habe.^^ In der Handlung dreht es sich hauptsächlich um eine Gruppe von Frauen und Ihren Interpretationen der Jane Austen Romane. Jede bekommt (auf Ihr persönliches Leben abgestimmt) einen Roman zugewiesen. Die Charaktere sind herrlich unterschiedlich, nichtsdestotrotz versteht man die Freundschaft die die Parteien verbindet, auch wenn der Anfang bei manchen vill etwas holprig war. So erlebt jede der Frauen Ihr kleines Liebes Dilemma und weiß unterschiedlich damit umzugehen. Da haben wir die betrogene Ehefrau mit lesbischer Tochter, die ewige Kupplerin die nie selbst die Liebe für sich in Anspruch nimmt, die Frau die Ehemänner wie Handtaschen zu sammeln scheint, die introvertierte Lehrerin die von Ihrem Ehemann vernachlässigt wird und sich in eine Liebschaft mit einem Schüler flüchtet und einen jungen Mann der erst als Spielball fungieren soll, sich dann aber als wertvolles Mitglied der Gruppe erweist. Schauspielerisch sind die Figuren einwandfrei umgesetzt und absolut glaubhaft (allen voran Emily Blunt<3)! Ich gebe also gerne 5 von 5 Punkten, da ich schon jetzt die Lust verspüre Ihn mir noch einmal anzusehen.^^

A good rom-com, based around a book club with six people, who each choose one of the six novels by Jane Austen in most cases their particular favourite, which interesting seems to reflex their own lives. Effortless watching and you don't need to be a Jane Austen officianardo to enjoy.

Nice story, good performances, not a deep thinker but enjoyable just the same.