An American in Austen

8.2 stars.

If you are hopelessly stricken by Austen's works, tread carefully into this story, as it may be offensive to your dogmatic senses and sensibilities.

This is the tale of a female author who is currently struggling with writer's block. She is well versed in old English literature and other similar works. There is much going on in her life, a boyfriend who wants more, a publisher who demands her best, and her personal life is cluttered with too many things. She makes a wish and we are taken back in time, into a book within a book, which eventually lands into yet a third.

Once again, Hallmark hits a home run. I find they are producing some very entertaining period pieces; almost defining for our times what a family friendly historical fiction film should be. Hollywood, take some lessons about 19th century English (family values oriented) comedy/drama from 'An American in Austen'.

I do fewer reviews these days, I've moved on after 800+. I feel for me it's better to rate a movie and get on with my day. But when I happen upon a remarkable film as this, I have to share my thoughts.

What jumps out immediately is the lead female/protagonist does not fit in with any of the characters from 'Pride and Prejudice', to whence she has been transported back in time. I feel this is a brilliantly clever rendition of a woman out of place and time. And, she very much seems 200 years out of place. Her mannerisms, colloquialisms, language, metaphors, and slang are so painfully untimely and vulgar. Yet, her character is so well versed in Victorian era knowledge due to her literature background, that she is able to navigate her way through with limited difficulty (conveniently explained by her being swept into the narrative as an American cousin of the family).

The script is amazingly clever and to augment it, the acting is equally as superb. Her character is emboldened with 21st century sarcasm and wit, refreshingly matched step by step by the intellect and savvy of the characters from the novel that she has found herself living in. She has wished to have a Mr. Darcy of her own, and her wish is granted. Of course, she is completely out of her element.

What a great theme for a wonderful story...brilliant, luminous, splendid!

Librarian Harriet Goodson (Eliza Bennett) is struggling to write her first novel. Her boyfriend makes the big proposal and she can only respond with Maybe. Her favorite book is Pride and Prejudice. She wakes up magically inside the book as an American cousin and meets her fantasy crush Mr. Darcy (Nicholas Bishop).

Eliza Bennett is a lovely actress and she plays a good fish out of water. It is a little funny that the British actress is playing an American in this British classic. Heck, her name is Eliza Bennett. It's very meta. The Hallmark production looks rather TV movie level despite the grand locations. It could be better. The story is a fun and often-done concept. More could be used for comedy. Maybe she doesn't like the food or the makeup is bad. They do the corset and the carriage rides. Those are a little funny. This just needs to push for more humor. The Bennet sisters are really only characters in a book. They don't have the latitude to be real people. It's all up to Harriet. I want her to run around and struggling in this old timey society to get things right.

I love the premise of someone from the modern world, who has read the book, finding themselves in the midst of their favourite book. I first saw the same premise in a BBC miniseries Lost in Austen, which did a superb job with it. This movie starts off similarly, but unfortunately makes too many choices for the characters in the book that are pretty out of character. I particularly did not like what they did with the two main characters (Liz and Darcy). It just didn't seem like the writers really understood these characters at all.

But if you want a better version of a similar premise, navigate to Lost in Austen. I can't recommend that enough.

All in all, if you don't already know the original books, you might enjoy this. If you do, I'd suggest watching something else.

Out of all the Jane Austen Hallmarks (2024), this one has impressed me the most.

Harriet is a struggling writer with a supporting boyfriend that loves her deeply. Despite their short on screen time, their chemistry is unquestionable and is more enjoyable than most couples in recent Hallmark feature films.

Harriet, after a series of events, finds herself in the story of Pride & Prejudice living out the plot of the book as the American cousin of the Bennett girls. Her involvement in their story brings many twists and turns, especially since she knows the story.

The humour in the movie is clever and current, with the lead actress being an absolute star in the movie. She delivers an outstanding performance that sells Harriet wonderfully. By the end, you're rooting for her and her quirkiness.

Moreover, the set and costume of this film is OUTSTANDING. Undeniably, one of the best dressed Hallmarks I've seen in a long time. They captured the time and location wonderfully, as if you were watching a feature film of Pride & Prejudice. It made me wish I were booking a flight overseas to experience what I watched in the movie.

Overall, this Hallmark is a fun watch with an ending that is different by Hallmarks standards. Even if you're not too familiar with Jane Austin's work, this movie does a great job with capturing the emotion, comedy and romance of some of the best.

'' An American in Austen '' is a fantasy romantic comedy that sends our american Austen lover author in one of Austen's most famous works.

The movie is pretty enjoyable, to the point that you often forget that its a Hallmark. It is well filmed, has plenty of funny moments, it's light, it's romantic, and it has a nice enough ending that is both satisfying and happy. Also, our main lead didn't get annoying and she was actually really sweet. The side characters did a great job as well. In addition, the fantasy element was well handled.

So, overlal, six out of ten for '' An American in Austen ''.