Director: Julian Jarrold
Starring: Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, James Cromwell, Maggie Smith, Joe Anderson, Ian Richardson, Leo Bill, Anna Maxwell Martin, Julie Walters

- Reviewed by Linda

All I can say is that it is too bad that Jane Austen herself didn't write Becoming Jane. This fictional biopic is based on a (perhaps) life-altering love story from the writer's life that seemingly (and obviously, according to this movie) inspired one of Austen's most famous and beloved tales Pride & Prejudice. Apparently this romance is liberally imagined from a couple sentences in letters from Jane to her sister. The fellow in question is one Tom Lefroy, a man who, in real life, ended up becoming Lord High Justice of Ireland.

In the movie-imagining of their flirtation-turned-full-blooded-romance, Jane (Anne Hathaway) is a spirited young woman living in countryside England (substituted by Ireland in the film) with her family. Her sister Cassandra (Anna Maxwell Martin) is swooningly engaged to be married, but Jane, still single, remains unattached despite the interest of several suitors including the kind but dull nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh... I mean Lady Gresham (Maggie Smith). But Jane is a writer, constantly scribbling away, cutting out with scissors the pesky errors and unsightly edits. She is not interested in being with a man without "affection".

Then in walks Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy), a "metropolitan" lawyer-type from London. He yawns at Jane's parlor-room readings and gripes and complains about the boredom of the country where he has been sent to visit with relatives. Of course Jane thinks he is incorrigible, is a womanizer, and has no respect for her writing. But she slowly warms to him... after all he IS different, and he challenges her to read his favorite book, Tom Jones. Suddenly, Jane realizes that Lefroy is, in fact, much more interesting than any of the men who have attempted to woo her, and Tom, in turn, is smitten with this headstrong lass.

But alas, this is not a Jane Austen novel. Jane would put happy endings to her stories when in fact her own life was less glorious. This is where Becoming Jane is most interesting and most tragic. As Cyndi Lauper sings, "Money changes everything..." When you come from a struggling pastor's family, as Jane does, and live in a time where there is no shame greater than being a spinster (except maybe simply being poor), the promise of money means everything. Does true love win out? Can the lovers overcome all obstacles and live happily ever after?

Becoming Jane is helped by winning performances by the appealing Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy. It took me about five minutes (after an awkward introductory voice-over) to overcome Hathaway's British accent. She has porcelain dewy skin and natural beauty that is perfect for a time-period piece, and McAvoy proves again in this film that he has a rakish charm on the outside, but is so good at being sensitive (by welling-up his eyes and pursing his rosy lips together so tight that they disappear).

But I couldn't quite put my finger on why I wasn't falling for the movie itself. It has all the ingredients of a Jane Austen novel, but a novel that is in serious need of an editor. The film runs a solid two hours, and seems to be rambling in the second hour, trying to find footing with a dramatic arc that is only as unpredictable as its inevitable ending. The film sure looks good, but it just doesn't have the spark of other acclaimed and popular Austen adaptations. Austen's glorious, sharp, witty language is direly missing. Without the prose, this Austen movie felt exactly like what it was: a Jane Austen knock-off.

Bonus features include audio commentary with director Julian Jarrold, writer Kevin Hood, and producer Robert Bernstein, optional pop-up facts and footnotes, deleted scenes, and the featurette "Discovering the Real Jane Austen". The featurette finds the cast and crew waxing poetic on what a fun and feisty girl Jane would have been, and how dearly they love her work. For the umpteenth time in my life, I had to wonder why I'm still not an Austen fan, but as Oprah's friend says, I guess I'm just not that into her. For those of you who are, the extras will immerse you even further in Austen's world, and connect you with equally dedicated fans of her work.

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