For some reason, Hollywood can't seem to get enough of Jane Austen. Her novels are never far from the big screen, and this year has seen two movies dedicated to Jane herself.
The latest, "The Jane Austen Book Club," focuses on the lives of six modern-day Sacramento residents who join a book club and begin to see their relationships through the lens of Jane Austen's novels.
Book clubs are typically thought of as suburban institutions that bring together middle-aged mothers who, while sitting in a circle in a living room nibbling on delicious food, talk about a book of their choice while their children are off at school.
"The Jane Austen Book Club," based on the novel of the same title by Karen Joy Fowler, (which has itself found popularity with such groups) includes a slightly more diverse membership.
Bernadette (played by Kathy Baker), a free-spirited but maternal figure, proposes the club as a remedy to the relationship troubles plaguing the lives of her friends. Jocelyn (Maria Bello) joins the club to support her friend and is soon joined by Sylvia (Amy Brenneman), who is blissfully unaware that the club was partially started to help wean her away from her dogs and her isolated bachelorette pad.
Sylvia's daughter Allegra (Maggie Grace) moves back home to support her mother and joins the club as well. Most notably, Emily Blunt delivers a captivating performance as Prudie, an uptight high school French teacher who has little in common with the friends in the group. Her marriage has lost its passion, and she finds herself tempted by an attractive male student. Like the other women of the group, she looks to Jane for guidance.
Though the diversity of the five women adds depth to the movie, it is the single male of the group who contributes a healthy does of humor. Hugh Dancy's Grigg adds much-needed comic relief, if not an equalizing amount of testosterone. To become the best romantic option for the modern age, his character matches the charm of an Austen love interest with the lovability of Seth Cohen: He's handsome, young, rich, but also a little shy and clumsy - and a huge geek.
Sylvia and Grigg meet in the elevator of a hotel where Grigg is attending a sci-fi convention, and questions of gender and literature instantly become themes of their conversations (and flirtations). "Book Club" characters frequently contend that Austen is not just for women. If one is to follow the example set by the characters, however, Austen appears most appealing to women struggling with love's difficulties and the men trying to woo them.
Grigg claims to enjoy the books, but connects to Austen's novels best when he can draw connections between them and his favorite science fiction stories, sometimes in rather creative ways; for example, it's not every day that "Mansfield Park" is compared to "Return of the Jedi." Grigg brings a truly unique perspective to the group, but his argument that science fiction is not just for guys is much more convincing than the argument that Austen can equally appeal to both genders.
The film acts quickly to distance itself from the lethargy often associated with Austen adaptations. The opening credits feature a fast-paced montage of busy city life, racing to the beat of Paolo Nutini's "New Shoes." The high concentration of dialogue resulting from discussion between opinionated characters keeps the pace of the film running smoothly.
Quick scene changes and montages of each individual engaging in their separate lives are necessary to fit so much content and character development into just 105 minutes of film. The contemporary music, settings and lifestyle choices of the characters are all chosen to stress the modernity of the characters, which face situations that parallel those of Austen's personages.
Although nearly 200 years have passed, human relationships' complexities will never change; the themes of Austen's writings are still relevant today. Taking note of the similarities between their lives and their favorite novels, the women recognize Austen's wisdom and come to live by, sometimes literally, the revamped mantra, "What Would Jane Do?"
The conclusion, however, feels disparate from the rest of the film, which tackles the difficult issues of life and love. The finale flashes forward one year to a reunion of the club, and all of the characters' relationship issues seem to have been magically resolved. Throughout the six months of the club, its members experience real emotional pain brought on by failed or failing relationships and look to the club for friendship, support and moral guidance.
It may be conceivable that such support could help individuals grow and reach some kind of solution, but the idea that all six members would achieve happily ever afters as a result of six months in the club feels unrealistic. The attainment of happy, romantic relationships for each of the women may be an attempt to conform to typical Austen endings, but such a conclusion detracts from the otherwise honest tone of the film.
Despite the saccharine ending, the film is charming, well-acted and relatable. The characters are sympathetic and the audience roots for their eventual happiness. For both the members and the audience, the "Jane Austen Book Club" involves more than a study of literary motifs and themes, but also the unchanging themes of human concerns, love and relationships.
