Austenland

Based on Shannon Hale's 2007 novel about a woman who is obsessed with the 1995 BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, filmmaker Jerusha Hess's Austenland revolves around thirtysomething Jane Hayes (Keri Russell), who keeps a life-sized cardboard cutout of Colin Firth in her bedroom, and is besotted with dreams of her own Mr. Darcy. Jane ponies up enough money to fly to England for an expensive vacation at a British theme resort called Austenland, where primly imperious Mrs. Wattlesbrook (Jane Seymour) promises every lovelorn visitor a chaste, 19th-century romance with an on-staff actor. After arriving, mousy Jane makes the acquaintance of crass Elizabeth Charming (Jennifer Coolidge), a wealthy American who has never actually read Austen's literary classics but enjoys wearing “those wench dresses.” As the women squeal and sashay around the drawing room in Regency Era costumes, they're faux-wooed by various fictional suitors, including foppish Colonel Andrews (James Callis), roguish Capt. George East (Ricky Whittle) and a dour Darcy-double, Henry Nobley (JJ Feild). Disillusioned because her limited funds designate her as “Miss Jane Erstwhile, an orphan of no fortune”—meaning she cannot enjoy the same exquisite luxuries as other role-playing bachelorettes, such as Amelia Heartwright (Georgia King), who purchased a platinum premium package--dowdily-dressed Jane finds that she fancies Martin (Bret McKenzie), a lowly Aussie stable boy/carriage driver. Predictably, Jane's path to true love is troublesome; unfortunately, the rather bland Austenland lacks the sauciness of a snarky satire. An optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary with director Jerusha Hess and producer Stephenie Meyer, a Q&A with costars Keri Russell, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Seymour, Bret McKenzie, Georgia King, JJ Feild, Ricky Whittle, and James Callis (33 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a plain Jane film.] (S. Granger)