Isn't It Romantic? Better than Comfort Food

Rating: 7/10 (13 December 2005)

Saw it twice. The first time I went I realized that I had started an internal dialog comparing it to the 1995 5 hour plus mini-series, and this comparison continued throughout the entire picture. So I went a second time, put Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle out of my mind, and sat back and thoroughly enjoyed it. Just over two hours, the film is fun with all the comedy, silliness, and ups and downs of the Bennett family.
It's a great romp through Jane Austen's England, and I was surprised to read that this was the directorial debut of Joe Wright. Everyone sparkled in the film, although Mr. Collins seemed a step behind. Keira talks too fast or is it that she cuts off her words in certain scenes, and the background music sometimes overwhelms the spoken lines of the actors. Hats off to the new Darcy. He was excellent, seductive voice and looks better and better as the camera closes in on him. The chemistry was palpable. The cinematography and locations were very, very good. All in all, this film will satisfy those of us who are incurably romantic. I have a feeling that Jane Austen would have had a few chuckles watching her masterpiece come to life.