Rated PG

Directed by Julian Jarrold (also directed “Brideshead Revisited“)

Starring Anne Hathaway, Julie Walters, James McAvoy, Maggie Smith, Jessica Ashworth

Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 2

Word of Warning: This one’s a bit of a snore fest.

We seem to have hit a grouping of historical movies on our Netflix queue and I keep forgetting to go in and mix it up. Despite being set against a vividly green backdrop (Ireland instead of England) and featuring a lovely soundtrack ”Becoming Jane” just isn’t my cup of tea. 

As I have stated over and over, I like historical movies and like most literary women (of which I count myself in the number), I have read Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility.” I may have read some of her other works, but quite frankly I can’t remember. I enjoy Austen’s work, but I prefer the more grown-up writings of Edith Wharton and E.M. Forster. I use the terms “grown up” to refer to their ability to deal with more adult subject matters, such as sex, marriage and unhappy endings.

The movie is based on the life of Jane Austen as a young woman. Although the her true relationship with lawyer Thomas Lefroy (James McAvoy) is unknown, the writers of “Becoming Jane” decided to write the two characters as madly in love. Jane Austen’s family is not wealthy and do not approve of the penniless Lefroy. Another man waits in the wings, a Mr. Wisley who stands to inherit his aunt’s large estate. Her family much prefers a match with Mr. Wisely, but Jane isn’t impressed with the quiet, rather dull gentleman.  

It is true true that at age 30, Jane Austen received a proposal of marriage from a man in good standing and turned him down. Though no one knows exactly why she refused the marriage proposal, she later wrote to a niece,” Anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marry without Affection.”

Anne Hathaway is believable as the naive and headstrong Jane Austen and Julie Walters is entertaining as Jane’s meddling, but well-meaning mother. I am not much of a fan of McAvoy, due in part to my distain for ”Atonement.” McAvoy was fine in this role, but I felt it really could have been played by anyone.

Overall, this movie is not outstanding, nor is it an entire waste of time. If you happen to catch it on television and aren’t terrible tired, it may be a nice way to pass time on a rainy Saturday afternoon. I much prefer the 1995, BBC’s version of Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”