The Jane Austen Book Club

A chick flick if there ever was one, The Jane Austen Book Club follows several characters whose lives start to echo that of the various heroes and heroines within Jane Austen’s novels. The film’s reliance on some of the hoariest cliches of the genre, which is to be expected, really, given the source material, is initially somewhat off-putting, as the viewer is subjected to a series of plot twists that couldn’t possibly be more obvious. But there’s just no denying that the characters become increasingly compelling as the film progresses, ensuring that, by the time the almost ridiculously upbeat conclusion rolls around, one can’t help but feel some kind of emotional catharsis. The uniformly likeable performances – the cast includes, among others, Maria Bello, Emily Blunt, and Jimmy Smits – certainly go a long way towards perpetuating the exceedingly agreeable atmosphere, and though it’ll never be mistaken for anything more than a breezy diversion, The Jane Austen Book Club is ultimately far more engaging and entertaining than one has any right to expect.

*** out of ****