Nice if You're Short on Time

Rating: 7/10 (4 April 2010)

I can't say anything horrible about this adaptation, in fact it's good. BUT if you've read the book or have had the wonderful luck to have seen the 1995 BBC version with Elizabeth Ehle and Colin Firth, then you will be underwhelmed. As you must be since this is only acceptable as a 2 hour version. The story is just too complex to be truncated down to this point. But I must say it's pretty well edited in its form.
Just two appearances by Mr. Wickham, Lady Catherine de Bourgh doesn't receive enough play up to the climactic confrontation, everybody's sisters are mostly irrelevant, and Mrs. Bennet does not hold up to the portrayal by Alison Steadman; furthermore, the chemistry between Knightley and MacFadyen DOESN'T BEGIN to approach that of Ehle and Firth, among other issues.
The production company should've known what they were getting into after all. So, if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen. On the plus side, it is beautifully photographed with excellent cinematography and I owe someone a nickel because Keira Knightley can act.