Jane Austen Wrecked My Life assessment – witty, well-played French comedy in a Bridget Jones vein

It is a fact universally said that Jane Austen has impressed extra romcoms than every other creator – and the vast majority of them function a contemporary tackle an Austen protagonist, a brand new Lizzie Bennet or Emma Woodhouse. But this humorous and good French comedy as a substitute offers us a 21st-century Jane Austen. British-French actor Camille Rutherford is terrific as Agathe, an aspiring novelist operating in a Paris bookstore who wins a spot on a Jane Austen writing retreat run by way of the creator’s descendants.

“I’m not living in the right century!” Agathe wails to her absolute best good friend and colleague Félix (Pablo Pauly). She’s no longer into relationship apps (“I don’t want Uber sex!”). But she does have chemistry with Félix (he’s a participant, however no longer at Wickham ranges of caddishness), and it’s Félix who secretly submits Agathe’s writing to a Jane Austen society. The comedy takes slightly of an IQ dip when the movie crosses the Channel and the discussion switches to English. Still, it glides alongside on Rutherford’s efficiency as Agathe – witty, heat, keenly observant, slightly clumsy and Bridget Jones-ish, however by no means, no longer even for a second, cringy.

On the retreat, Agathe takes an speedy loathing to Austen’s great-great-great-nephew Oliver (Charlie Anson); he’s a professor of recent literature who loftily pronounces that Austen is overestimated. Judgmental, boastful, and altogether up himself, Oliver is the movie’s Mr Darcy – despite the fact that performed with an excessive amount of Hugh Grant to take significantly. You don’t need to be an Austen fan to experience this movie, but it surely is helping. Agathe’s catch 22 situation between Oliver and Félix is vintage Austen – however Agathe’s actual discovery isn’t love, however her writing voice. And that’s the purpose the movie makes with out attempting too laborious: new century, identical self-pressure and doubt. Here’s Agathe on impostor syndrome. “No – I’m a genuine impostor!”