This ensemble piece by Robin Swicord (Memoirs of a Geisha, Little Women) follows the stories of six Sacramento friends (Kathy Baker, Amy Brenneman, Maggie Grace, Emily Blunt, Maria Bello, and Hugh Dancy) who are part of an all-Jane-Austen-all-the-time book club. It is also a surprisingly successful, un-Hallmark-ified take on the traditional chick flick. Swicord, who, in addition to directing, adapted the script from the novel treated this story with the dignity that few others would have--and pulls it off. Using the framework of one book/month/member formula, just enough time is devoted to each storyline to keep the story moving along at an interesting clip. It may not haunt your dreams with import after it's over, but fans of the chick flick oeuvre will find The Jane Austen Book Club quite rewarding.
ReelzChannel Rating: 