PG | 92 min | Drama, Romance
Review - Matt Mungle
*In select theaters including the Angelika Plano May 20th*
Synopsis: Beautiful young widow Lady Susan Vernon visits to the estate of her in-laws to wait out the colourful rumours about her dalliances circulating through polite society. Whilst ensconced there, she decides to secure a husband for herself and a future for her eligible but reluctant daughter, Frederica. In doing so she attracts the simultaneous attentions of the young, handsome Reginald DeCourcy, the rich and silly Sir James Martin and the divinely handsome, but married, Lord Manwaring, complicating matters severely.
Review:
The fact that LOVE & FRIENDSHIP is based on the Jane Austen
novella
"Lady Susan" will be a huge draw for many. Mix a decent amount of good
natured humor with the expected Austen romance and you get a fun, lighthearted
trip back to the 1790's. This one is dressed for success and ready to
mingle in polite society.
To
create a 90-minute film from a writing that was little more than a short
story there has to be liberties taken. To the casual viewer these changes
will be unrecognizable and those who have read the novella will find no
harm either.The characters are plenty and each with their own quirks and
eccentricities. Everything centers around Lady Susan (Kate Beckinsale)
and her actions that would have been perfect for a Real Housewives of
Churchill reality show. She is cunning but likeable, clever yet with an
air of innocence.
The
men in Lady Susan's life are the most enjoyable to watch. Sir James Martin
(Tom Bennett) is a hilarious addition and seems more suited for Faulty
Towers or a Monty Python skit. He is easily the most fun to watch. Of
course young Reginald DeCourcy (Xavier Samuel) is the Austen poster boy
for charm and swoon worthy features.
It
must be stated that of all films based in the Jane Austen world this one
certainly feels the most like an afternoon Soap Opera. The way the characters
are introduced and the subtle ways the flirt and move about give it a
staged feel and often causes the dialoige to be a bit too rehearesed and
predictable. This is not a deal breaker but keeps it from being close
the greatness of past tellings.
LOVE
& FRIENDSHIP is rated PG for some thematic elements. Content is on
point for the time period and without a hint of anything objectionable.
I give it 3 out of 5 little green peas and I can appreciate what they
wanted to do. There is nothing remarkable to take away but a fairly fun
stroll none the less.
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