Common Sense Note
This is a nice visual supplement for students of the book, and an instructive satire of upper-class hypocrisy in the early 1800s.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Ellen MacKay
From the opening wedding celebration to those that close the story, this is a romantic creampuff of a movie, a perfect confection for those looking for worthy, warmhearted family entertainment. As Emma, Gwyneth Paltrow is stunning--funny and charming, but brave enough to give full weight to her character's occasional smallness and snobbery.
The movie is also a fine adaptation of an excellent Jane Austen novel, offering much more than violins and ladies in pretty dresses. Skilled comic performances are perhaps the movie's best feature. The characters are hilarious, from Toni Collette's naïve Harriet Smith, to Alan Cumming's pompous vicar, to Sophie Thompson's brilliant turn as the jabbering spinster Miss Bate. (Thompson is the younger sister of Emma Thompson and herself an Austen veteran--see her in Persuasion.)
While the story may seem a bit highbrow to attract a young audience, kids will warm to it. The mysterious behavior of Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax will catch their interest, and they'll find characters to identify with, regardless of the occasionally highfalutin dialogue. With its spectacular interiors and gorgeous swaths of English countryside, viewers with reasonable attention spans will find plenty to like.
While die-hard Austen fans may cast a vote for the BBC version of Emma, this is a much more appealing version for a general audience. For an updated retelling of Emma, set in Beverly Hills, try Clueless.
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LanguageBrief mild language. |
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Social BehaviorThe old double standard--ladies (especially Miss Fairfax) suffer trying to maintain their reputations while roguish men enjoy a certain popularity. |
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