James Callis (left), Ricky Whittle, Keri Russell, Jane Seymour and JJ Feild star in "Austenland." Courtesy / Sony Pictures Classics
What is every woman's fantasy? "Austenland" blurs the line between fiction and nonfiction in a romantic comedy that is at times literate, clunky and amusingly kooky.
The picture is a total lark for the cult of Jane Austen, and they should take it as such rather than be offended by the manner in which it lovingly pokes fun at fans (especially American Anglophiles) and at the author's tales of manners that are morphed into the stuff of bodice-ripping role-play.
Keri Russell plays Jane Hayes, an American 30-something ("The clock is ticking..." everyone reminds her) so entranced by the world of Austen - and in particular the BBC production of "Pride and Prejudice" starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy - that she seems hopelessly single because no man can live up to her Regency-era standards.
The conceit that makes "Austenland" something more than its familiar rom-com synopsis is that Jane splurges for a trip to a fictional theme-park experience that totally immerses women in Austen's world, sweeping them off in carriages to the English countryside.
They arrive wide-eyed and in costume at a massive estate populated by hunky actors, servants and Jane Seymour in a bit of perfect casting as the provider of women's fantasies and period corsets to string up tightly.
This plan results in something of a one-joke movie, as first-time director Jerusha Hess ticks off the Austenish situations for her heroine to experience. A romantic triangle involving Austenland's resident Darcy-type gentleman (JJ Feild) and the stableboy (Bret McKenzie) competing for Jane's affections? Check.
Too many scenes with these potential paramours seem to trail off rather than transition, the result of lazy writing and editing. Ultimately, the in-joke nature of the one joke seems as silly as you would imagine if such a place actually existed, and depth beyond the mocking proves elusive.
But Hess has a good handle on comedic timing regarding the absurdity of this adult fantasy park (she and her husband are the co-writers of "Napoleon Dynamite" and "Nacho Libre") and the chuckles are consistent.
"Twilight's" Stephenie Meyer makes her producing debut on material other than that which she has written, and the result is far better than this spring's "The Host."
Jennifer Coolidge is the definition of a "hoot" as the boorish, wealthy, oversexed American paired with Russell's character in the pursuit of men. There is a limit to how many times you can hear Coolidge's East Coast accent butcher an English accent and period references in their role-playing ("Colonel, you really are a saucy monkey...") and guffaw, and the script nearly reached that point.
Despite the limitations, there's a goofy, satirical spirit to the whole thing, and the concept of Jane's search for love in the real world does prove entertaining.
A special note: If you attend "Austenland," do not leave before the end credits.
Michael Smith 918-581-8479
michael.smith@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Film pokes fun at Austen cult
'AUSTENLAND'
Cast: Keri Russell, JJ Feild, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Seymour
Theater: AMC Southroads 20
Running time: 1 hour, 37 minutes
Rated: PG-13 (some suggestive content and innuendo)
Quality: (on a scale of zero to four stars)
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