Clever version of 'Sense and Sensibility'

Rating: 8/10 (7 December 2010)

This enjoyable film is a modern-day version of Jane Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility'. Drew Barrymore plays the Elinor part, and also really the Marianne part , too. So in her past relationship she was fooled and abandoned (too much sensibility, like Marianne in S&S), now she avoids her gift of poetry and is reluctant to use her newly discovered (by Alex Fletcher) gift for lyrics (too much sense, Elinor). In fact, when Sophie explains the relationship between the melody (sensibility) and lyrics (sense) to Alex, that is the key to the whole film. This great modern adaptation is supported by very clever comedy in the '80s style pop and in Haley Bennet's fine comedic version of Cora, and by well-written songs.