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The Jane Austen Book Club

Play trailer Poster for The Jane Austen Book Club PG-13 Released Sep 21, 2007 1h 46m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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66% Tomatometer 114 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Six Californians (Maria Bello, Amy Brenneman, Emily Blunt) form a book club devoted to studying the works of the 19th-century author. As each deals with life's assorted challenges, she or he finds unexpected similarities and wisdom within the pages of Austen's witty prose.
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The Jane Austen Book Club

The Jane Austen Book Club

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Critics 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.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: B+ Feb 18, 2012 Full Review Cliff Doerksen Time Out Rated: 1/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Anthony Quinn Independent (UK) The contrivance is horrible, the schmaltz unpardonable. Rated: 2/5 Nov 16, 2007 Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter Despite the movie's cramming romantic mishaps down our gullets like the pilot episode of a mini-series...viewing the discontents of the post-feminist generation through the prism of Austen's rulebook starts to produce its share of entertaining moments... May 26, 2020 Full Review Steve Biodrowski Cinefantastique ...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... Mar 10, 2009 Full Review Heather Huntington ReelzChannel.com A surprisingly successful, un-Hallmark-ified take on the traditional chick flick. Rated: 7/10 Aug 27, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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donnie m horrible acting by some 'usually' good actors-this could have been a lot better Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/11/24 Full Review Audience Member Having a "Jane Austen Book Club" with all the participants struggling with a situation from one of Jane's books should be an absolute winner. Sadly such was not the case. Watching "The Jane Austen Book Club" was rather more reminiscent of "Sex in the City". The feeling of the hovering hand of a scripting committee was present for the entire movie. It is exactly why films made by totalitarian states are so unwatchable. Too much worrying about the audience and too little thought of the authenticity of the story. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review bee j Tedious, flat, and totally predictable. A fine idea deflated by a turgid script and uninspired direction. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member One instance that the movie is BETTER than the book! Adorably cute - the actors did a great job bringing this to like! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review steve d I know Jane Austen... this is no Jane Austen. A deeply unpleasant experience. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member May be some *SPOILERS* ahead. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and I loved the cast. But this is supposed to be a feel-good movie (that's one interpretation ^_^) or a chick-flick, & does a fairly good job of it. There is no main character, but in one sense Jocelyn and Grigg can be considered the leading couple. Comprising a group of friends (& a daughter), two strangers are welcomed to the book club to help cheer up Jocelyn after she looses her dog. From then the members take on, one Austen at a time as everyone but Bernadette goes through trials in their personal lives. By today's standards there is some lack of diversity, although Sylvia and Daniel are obviously a Hispanic/Latino couple as can be concluded from their last name. Also Sylvia uses mija as a term of endearment for her daughter, in a single scene. The portrayal that I found refreshing was that of Allegra, daughter of Sylvia and Daniel. She has come out to her parents and family friends and all the exchanges play out without being highlighted or hushed. Well, except for one scene, but that too is more for the benefit (or is it clarity?) of someone else. The characters are all nice guys and Prudie is difficult to figure out, especially the fact that she and her husband are together?! But that's a back story we don't get to see. Their story is wrapped up neatly by the end of the movie (feel-good movie right)... and well, there isn't a true villain except may be for two women who grace the screen for a very short period and a short period. My favorite character in this movie is Grigg. He tries. "Eager to please." - two characters say of him early on, and the fact that he's cute. I enjoyed watching Hugh Dancy on screen, especially this portrayal of a sensitive and considerate guy. Although that's questioned in one scene; but I guess everyone can't be nice all the time. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Six Californians (Maria Bello, Amy Brenneman, Emily Blunt) form a book club devoted to studying the works of the 19th-century author. As each deals with life's assorted challenges, she or he finds unexpected similarities and wisdom within the pages of Austen's witty prose.
Director
Robin Swicord
Producer
John Calley, Julie Lynn, Diana Napper
Screenwriter
Robin Swicord
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Mockingbird Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Mature Thematic Material|Brief Strong Language|Sexual Content|Some Drug Use)
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 21, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
1h 46m
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