horrible acting by some 'usually' good actors-this could have been a lot better

Having a "Jane Austen Book Club" with all the participants struggling with a situation from one of Jane's books should be an absolute winner. Sadly such was not the case. Watching "The Jane Austen Book Club" was rather more reminiscent of "Sex in the City". The feeling of the hovering hand of a scripting committee was present for the entire movie. It is exactly why films made by totalitarian states are so unwatchable. Too much worrying about the audience and too little thought of the authenticity of the story.

Tedious, flat, and totally predictable. A fine idea deflated by a turgid script and uninspired direction.

One instance that the movie is BETTER than the book! Adorably cute - the actors did a great job bringing this to like!

I know Jane Austen... this is no Jane Austen. A deeply unpleasant experience.

May be some *SPOILERS* ahead. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and I loved the cast. But this is supposed to be a feel-good movie (that's one interpretation ^_^) or a chick-flick, & does a fairly good job of it. There is no main character, but in one sense Jocelyn and Grigg can be considered the leading couple. Comprising a group of friends (& a daughter), two strangers are welcomed to the book club to help cheer up Jocelyn after she looses her dog. From then the members take on, one Austen at a time as everyone but Bernadette goes through trials in their personal lives. By today's standards there is some lack of diversity, although Sylvia and Daniel are obviously a Hispanic/Latino couple as can be concluded from their last name. Also Sylvia uses mija as a term of endearment for her daughter, in a single scene. The portrayal that I found refreshing was that of Allegra, daughter of Sylvia and Daniel. She has come out to her parents and family friends and all the exchanges play out without being highlighted or hushed. Well, except for one scene, but that too is more for the benefit (or is it clarity?) of someone else. The characters are all nice guys and Prudie is difficult to figure out, especially the fact that she and her husband are together?! But that's a back story we don't get to see. Their story is wrapped up neatly by the end of the movie (feel-good movie right)... and well, there isn't a true villain except may be for two women who grace the screen for a very short period and a short period. My favorite character in this movie is Grigg. He tries. "Eager to please." - two characters say of him early on, and the fact that he's cute. I enjoyed watching Hugh Dancy on screen, especially this portrayal of a sensitive and considerate guy. Although that's questioned in one scene; but I guess everyone can't be nice all the time.

Hallo! This movie is very wise. Not IMHO 🎥🎵 I am not actress, not supermodel, but, I try to becane film director (regissieur). I am a big fun of Yoaquin Phoenix, Todd Philips, James Cameron, Paul Walker, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Daniil Bodrov Jr, Robert Pattinson, Robert Downey Jr (Marvel Avengers), Deadpool, Keanu Charles Reeves, Karina Miller, Reever Phoenix, Vladimir Vysotskij, Ornella Muti, Romi Schneider, Natalia Oreiro, Sara Jessica Parker, JLo, David Beckham, Eminem, Dido, Snoop Dogg, Michael Jackson, Nickolas Cage Brigitte Bardot Victoria Beckham Britney Spears Ricky Martin Scorsese, Sergey Shnurov (russian rock-band Leningrad), Nautilus Pompilius (Vyacheslav Butusov, also russian rock-band), Kate Winslet, Sofi Lauren, YSLAURENT, Robert Redford, Robert Cincade, Robert Wallace Forster, Johnny Depp, Leo Di Caprio, Facundo Arana, Adriano Celentano, Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Rembo, Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe , Pavel Lungin, Stanislavsky, Aleksandr Abdulov, Andrew Mironov, Oleg Menshikov, Danila Kozlovsky, JYKusto, Abba, Rammstein, HIM, RCHP, Zac Efron, Jim Morrison, JKRowling, JRRTOLKIEN. And I am streamer, writer, too. I write in Russian, and just a little in English. The Film " Жизнь по Джейн Остен" Is kind, comic(homour), smart and warm. It's home movie, it's very sunny and warm. It's about me)))) I love all books of sisters Austen very much. Their books are almost like books Mari Bernadette Dupui and Lusy Mod Montgomery)))) they are perfect and genius, do you understand me?) Das alte Buchern, ich lese gern)))) and the film is just unforgettable!))) Almost like "Я буду дома к рождеству", "Spanglish", "Замёрзшая в Майами", "Bridges of Madison County", "Bridget Jones"(all 4 books, films💕), "Ghost busters", "Шопоголик", "Страх и ненависть в Лас Вегасе", мюзикл "Notre dame de Paris", мюзикл", "Cate and Leo", film "Отверженные "1+1 untouchebles". Almost like the film "The lake House"& "Сладкий ноябрь"& "Joker" & "Avatar"& "Once upon a time...in Hollywood"&"Konstantin"&"128 bits in a minute"&"Irishman"&"John Wick1"&"Home alone"&"Как приручить дракона" & "Шаг вперёд-6"& "Spider man: far away from home". All that films are very good. Old good England..) in my opinion, so. I suppose - it's very important- have courage to be kind. Ich glaube so. Thanks) Danke) Ringracio) Merci beaucoup) gracias 🙏 arigato..

Very disappointing. Female characters vary from agreeable to annoying

I actually found this so much more enjoyable than I thought I would didn't expect to but it worked it's magic on me plus I found all of the characters very likable each member of this book club has their own goings-on: one is single and never married, a mother goes through a tough divorce, a daughter finds love in the things she enjoys along with a female love interest, one's marriage is on the rocks from her husband not being there for her, and the only male of the group gets into the subject matter for the first time despite being a novist an amazing cast from Maria Bello to Maggie Grace to Emily Blunt to Hugh Dancy yeah it seems very familiar with each person hitting their high-points and low-points but reading from the works of Jane Austen somehow enlivens them in ways they never thought the relationships are sweet, the music is elegant, it's expertly filmed, and there is a positive feeling about how complex love is love is messy as well as sex, we each have our own desires, marriage isn't for everyone, and repairing the damage is harder than taking it all apart director Robin Swicord has Jane Austen still be as modern and relevant to our everyday lives in the world of complex relationships very, very pleasant to watch

It is a nice rom - com movie. As a true fan of Jane Austin, I enjoyed having different points of view on her books. But in general, I would say it is just a nice movie to pass the time, good actors, I liked many of the characters background stories, that I wished were explored further like Emily Blunt's character. Though it is an average rom -com so cant expect too much.

Weak and Boring sadly using Jane Austin's name

Pleasant, light movie. I enjoyed the camaraderie between the girlfriends and how they reacted/adapted to the new members and different personalities in their book club. In the end it all came together nicely.

Loved it...but warning, it's a chick flick.

Fell asleep half way up to the end.

A lot of fun -- Austen as the fix for everything gets a bit mushy at the end, but definitely fun to watch.

Heartwarming and insightful! Austen fans should rejoice, this is a great piece of film-making!

Formulaic yet Enjoyable...

One of the very few chick flicks that I actually enjoy.

Good film and a good insight to the books and the author behind them too

I don't know how much stars i should be given to this movie cause i still not finish watching it yet, but i like the idea about book club esp when the book that you read matches with the life situation you are in now, just like what happen to the characters in this movie.. Please HBO play this movie again!