I was looking for something light and fluffy the other night, and I lit upon this one searching in the Netflix instant play (can I tell you how much I love Netflix? I LOVE Netflix. A whole lot.). I remembered liking the book well enough, and I figured that while the movie wouldn’t be great, it might be enjoyable in a shallow, mindless, fluffy way. So I gave it a shot.
Afterward, when I checked my review, I was surprised how much the movie kept of the book, at least superficially. I don’t remember if the specifics were the same, or even if the arc of the story was the same (I think the book covered a longer time span then the movie did and maybe events were mix-mashed), but honestly, I don’t think it mattered. The plot was still mostly non-existent: the movie (like the book) just being an excuse for people (some screwed up, some more or less together) to sit around discussing, and possibly learning from (and learning to like), Jane Austen’s books. Which is not something I can argue with. I liked it.
I liked Hugh Dancy as the computer/sci-fi geek the best. The women were mostly stereotypes (the eccentric, the divorced woman, the gay younger woman, the control freak, and the screwed up one), but he was refreshing in the midst of all that estrogen. As time went on, and he learned more about Austen (when he first started he thought they were all sequels, which cracked me up), he actually had some refreshing insights (or at least the screenwriters gave him some) into Austen’s work. Which makes me wonder what Hubby would think about them, if he ever got around to reading them.
Verdict: probably as good as the book. Maybe better because it has Hugh Dancy in it. š
The Book Nut 
I saw the movie before reading the book, and thought it was okay, but later when I read the book, I thought that was infinitely superior. I had a few minor qualms with it, but I thought it was just brilliant, weaving in all the JA plots. At the time I read it, the only Austen book I'd read was Persuasion, though I'd seen the movies for P&P and S&S. I've almost read the entire Austen collection now, and after I've read the last (Northanger Abbey), I plan to reread the book to see how much I missed the first time.
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I haven't read the book but I watched the movie. I actually got the hubby to watch it with me. I can't remember why he did…lost a bet or something š But he actually watched it the whole way through. Too funny.
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This is one of those rare instances where I actually liked the movie better than the book. I found the book so-so, but I really enjoyed the movie.
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I love this movie and Hugh…he's perfect. I haven't read the book yet but it is on my list of things to-read!
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I agree with you : Hugh Dancy was also the highlight of the movie for me! In fact, I really liked his character in the book, too. I thought it was nice to have a character that was more funny, more open-minded amidst all those women! š
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I've heard quite a few people say that they liked the movie just as well or better than the book.
I really liked the movie but probably won't read the book because there are just too many books out there calling me…
1morechapter.com/
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