The Jane Austen Book Club

PG-13

Released Sep 21, 2007

1 hr. 46 min.

Drama

Romance

List

66%

115 Reviews

Tomatometer

67%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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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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

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Robin Swicord

Director

Maria Bello

Jocelyn

Amy Brenneman

Sylvia

Emily Blunt

Prudie

Maggie Grace

Allegra

Kathy Baker

Bernadette

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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

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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
Executive Producer: Marshall Rose
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

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