crispy_comments

People make excuses for these old BBC miniseries from the '70s and '80s, as if it's inevitable for a low budget "stagey" dramatization to be plodding and dull. What about all those snappy comedies on the actual stage? What about movies like The Importance of Being Earnest (1952), that basically look like a filmed stage production, and yet manage to be entertaining anyway? It's actually possible to have characters talking in a room, without a lot of fancy sets or scenery changes or action scenes, and without boring your audience. You just need a witty script and charismatic actors. You would think adapting Austen would be no problem since her writing *is* witty, but for some reason, the movies based on her books rarely get it right.

Stick to P&P '95 for a well-acted, engaging and fairly faithful version of the story, or even the 1940 MGM film, which has a great cast and is true to Austen in spirit and humor, if not in every plot and period detail. I didn't enjoy P&P '80 at all. Aside from the slow pace and low production values - and those lame exposition-y inner monologues - the main problem is the cast (or the way the actors were directed to play their characters...not sure which.) This Elizabeth smirks too much and just isn't very charming. This Darcy is a block of wood - there's nothing going on behind the eyes to convey repressed emotions, or any sort of longing for Lizzie (as Colin Firth conveyed so well in P&P '95).

I found myself most unhappy with this adaptation's Mr. Bennett, who is so lacking in the sense of humor he should have, so incredibly harsh, angrily barking out his lines and making it hard to believe he has any sort of affection for his family, even his supposed favorite, Lizzie. The man is supposed to come across as initially likeable, but neglectful of his family/duties. However, this actor plays him like he's a stern authority figure. The whole point is that he *doesn't* exert himself as a parent or spouse, dismissing his daughters and wife as ridiculous, and being partly responsible for their bad behavior. I don't know how this actor was allowed to misinterpret the character so badly. Heck, I don't know why so many Austen adaptations are heavy and serious, when they should be light and comical. Other than my theory that many filmmakers are shooting for awards, and they're aware that comedies are often snubbed by critics.

I tuned in to see two childhood favorites, Meredith Salenger (The Journey of Natty Gann) and Megan Follows (Anne of Green Gables) acting on-screen together. And then I found myself pleasantly surprised by the show as a whole.

Hollywood Heights is current but pays homage to Hollywood's history too. There's a nice blend of pretty much every genre... family drama, witty banter like you'd find on Gilmore Girls or classic screwball comedies, romance, backstage musical/songwriter biopic/showbiz rise & fall stories, even crime drama and film noir elements near the end of the series. As a fan of classic movies, I got a kick out of picking up on certain references (to A Star Is Born and Gone With The Wind, among others), which were well-integrated and fun for those who get them, but not out-of-place and confusing for younger viewers.

I admit I've got songs from the show stuck in my head, and I can't stand most of today's popular music. It helps that it doesn't feel like the showrunners are aggressively promoting soundtracks they want to sell, and wallpapering every scene with songs that drown out the dialogue (unlike all those teen shows on The CW or whatever.) There's some interesting insight into the way the music industry works, and modern internet trends/fan reactions vs. the way rock & roll stardom used to be, and I think a lot of it rings true.

Plot aside, I've got to care about the characters to really get emotionally involved in a story. Hollywood Heights impressed me there too. Most of the acting is strong, and the characterization and continuity is better than I've seen on many recent (and more popular but overrated) shows. The actors and writers really know how to make you root for (or hiss and boo at) the characters and get invested in their story lines, which, again, isn't easy to find on current TV, in my experience.

I could go on about how satisfying the show is from a feminist perspective, with a rare emphasis on mother/daughter and female friendship scenes. I was glad they hired actresses based on talent and included a variety of body types other than the anorexic. And I think the show subtly delivers a good message promoting healthy romantic relationships between independent equals, which young girls probably need to see more examples of in their fiction these days.

I'd buy this on DVD, yes, all 80 episodes, as pricey as that may be. Personally, I'm fine with not getting a second season as this one wrapped up nicely. It's so refreshing to have closure in a TV series, instead of leaving us with unresolved cliffhangers. I felt like I was watching a really long movie, with a satisfying ending that rewarded the time & emotions invested in it. Definitely a rarity in TV. When 80 episodes fly by and never feel like a chore to watch, you know they're doing something right.