Love & Friendship

— There’s a reason “Pride and Prejudice” has been made into a movie four times and a television mini-series three times while this is the first we’ve seen of Jane Austen’s “Lady Susan”, brought to the big screen with the title “Love & Friendship”. It’s pretty and witty but overly melodramatic for my liking. It feels a lot like a theatrical script since it suffers from a feeling of larger than necessary mannerisms and modulation. It’s filled with dull and dim-witted men surrounded by quick and conniving women making the behind-the-scenes decisions while skillfully maneuvering Regency customs. Think “I Love Lucy” in 19th Century England but not quite as funny. Don’t get me wrong, it is funny and a little naughty, and Kate Beckinsale is wonderful.

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[2016. 92 min. Directed by Whit Stillman. Starring Kate Beckinsale, Cloe Sevigny, and Xavier Samuel.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/love-and-friendship-2016