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This Jane Austen blog brings Jane Austen, her novels, and the Regency Period alive through food, dress, social customs, and other 19th C. historical details related to this topic.

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Lost in Austen, A Review of the Movie, Episode 2: Amanda’s Zany Journey Through the Land of Pride and Prejudice Continues

September 13, 2008 by Vic

In Episode Two of Lost in Austen we continue Amanda Price’s topsy turvy journey inside a beloved classic novel. One critic noted that it would help viewers immensely if they knew the plot of Pride and Prejudice, but I beg to differ. I think this satiric film, which makes fun not only of Amanda’s time travel romp through Pride and Prejudice, but regency novels and movies in general, is meant to poke fun at regency conventions (such as a lady’s accomplishments at the pianoforte) and at the current craze for all things Jane Austen. One does not need to know Pride and Prejudice intimately to laugh at some of the absurd situations, like a modern Amanda kneeing an oily Mr. Collins in the groin after he rescinds their engagement. This comment left on my review of Episode One summarizes my feelings about this mini-series:

If you know your Austen pretty well, this production is a comedy hoot with the daft modern Amanda trying to fix up the P&P plot gone horribly wrong. Nice in jokes like Amanda works for ‘ Sandition Life ‘ Great cast, fast pace, punchy lines made for TV. This is where it scores much better than a studious adaptation of the standard Austen novel. Finicky viewers can study the Hogarth prints on the Bennet’s wall – the rest can only have fits at Amanda’s antics.

Amanda and Mr. Collins

Amanda and Mr. Collins

The script, written by Guy Andrews, is a bit choppy (one gets a sense that this was a rushed production), and its satire in no way compares to the robust, biting sarcasm of a major feature film like Charlie Wilson’s War, written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Mike Nichols, both masters of their craft.

Guy Henry reminds me of Brock's Mr. Collins

Guy Henry resembles Brock's image of Mr. Collins

Perhaps it is unfair to compare an A-list movie to a rushed television production, but considering the constraints of budget and time, Lost in Austen manages to string quite a few witty moments together. There are major glaring errors, which even the most forgiving Janeite cannot overlook. Bingley and Darcy enter Jane’s sickroom with no chaperone or doctor in sight. In fact, Bingley leans over and checks Jane’s fever, a major faux pas. At the Netherfield Ball, Jane approaches Bingley for the next dance. No regency lady would ever have been so forward. The gentleman always collected the lady, whose role was to remain passive and, well, er, ladylike.

Jane approaches Mr. Bingley for a dance

Jane approaches Mr. Bingley for a dance

Setting aside these inaccuracies, there were quite a few satiric plums ripe for picking:

Talking to Mr. Darcy across the dining table

Talking to Mr. Darcy across the dining table

Amanda talks to Mr. Darcy through a floral centerpiece.

Lydia applies lipstick

Lydia applies lipstick

Lydia borrows Amanda’s cylinder and smears her mouth with lipstick

Mrs. Bennet disinvites Amanda

Mrs. Bennet disinvites Amanda through gritted teeth

Mrs. Bennet, a tigress defending her daughters’ rights to Bingley and Mr. Collins, tells Amanda: “The time has come Miss Price when we can no longer detain you with our hospitality.”

Tom Riley as Wickham the Cad

Tom Riley as Wickham the Cad

A wicked Wickham, who knows there’s something fishy about Amanda, tells her: “We have the same scent: I can smell myself on you.” A not very gentlemanly statement but it certainly hits the mark.

Amanda’s modern utterances – “C’mon Bingers!”, “Whoo, smolder alert!”, and “I hope he shall choke. Hateful man!” – add to the absurdity of the plot. In fact, every detail about this productions states that it is not to be taken seriously, from the music, which adds to the comedic overtones, to the reaction shots, which are sometimes priceless, to the absurd entanglements into which the characters are thrown.

Oh, dear, who could have guessed this plot development?

Oh, dear, who could have guessed this plot development?

The improbable situation of Jane marrying Mr. Collins leaves us dangling. How is Amanda ever to rectifiy this horrible state of events? Stay tuned for Part 3 of the series. I’m sure that Lost in Austen still has a few surprises in store for us. One thing is assured: Amanda will always be slightly out of step.

Out of step

Amanda (Jemima Rooper) is always a bit out of step

More Links:

  • Lost in Austen, A Review of the Movie, Episode One: On this blog
  • Lost in Austen, Episode 2 Review on Austenprose
  • Find a synopsis of Episode Two at PopSugar
  • Another review at TV Scoop
  • Find screen shots on ScreenRush
  • Interview with Jemima Rooper

Cast:

Jemima Rooper as Amanda Price
Elliot Cowan as Mr Darcy
Hugh Bonneville as Mr. Bennet
Alex Kingston as Mrs. Bennet
Gemma Arterton as Elizabeth Bennet
Morven Christie as Jane Bennet
Ruby Bentall as Mary Bennet
Florence Hoath as Kitty Bennet
Perdita Weeks as Lydia Bennet
Lindsay Duncan as Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Guy Henry as Mr Collins
Tom Mison as Mr Bingley
Christina Cole as Caroline Bingley
Tom Riley as Captain Wickham
Michelle Duncan as Charlotte Lucas

Update: Lost in Austen’s ratings are in, and it’s not quite a success with the viewers.

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Posted in jane austen, Movie review, Popular culture | Tagged Guy Henry, Jemima Rooper, Lost in Austen, Lost in Austen Episode Two, Lost in Austen Movie Review | 15 Comments

15 Responses

  1. on September 13, 2008 at 11:32 Lost in Austen: A Review of the Movie, Episode One « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Update: My review of Episode Two […]


  2. on September 13, 2008 at 21:54 Heather

    Ok, now I really have to see this!


  3. on September 15, 2008 at 11:36 Melinda Hammond

    I came to this series with no expectation that it would be any good and so far I have enjoyed it immensely. Some will hate it, I am sure, but this show is not meant to be taken seriously and it throws an interesting light on many JA characters.


  4. on September 15, 2008 at 11:37 Melinda Hammond

    PS – at last a Wickham who is attractive!


  5. on September 16, 2008 at 04:41 Lost in Austen Episode Two: This Mr. Collins is Really Creepy, fer sure! « Austenprose

    […] Lost in Austen, A Review of the Movie, Episode 2: Amanda’s Zany Journey Through the Land of Pride and Prejudice Continues at Jane Austen’s World […]


  6. on September 16, 2008 at 07:26 Sylvia

    I enjoyed the 1st episode – I’d like to have seen more of Lizzie though – maybe they will do a second series ‘Lizzie in London’.

    I personally thought Mr Collins ‘habit’ in the 2nd episode was unnecessarily crude and coarse.

    I thought Adrian Lukis who played Wickham in the version with Colin Firth was just as attractive as Darcy.


  7. on September 18, 2008 at 12:08 Round-up…all things Austen, week of Sept. 14… « Jane Austen in Vermont

    […] usual candid round-up of comments, and for Episode 3, and Jane Austen’s World Blog for a nice review of Episode 2, and another review at […]


  8. on September 20, 2008 at 21:59 roger the barker

    I thought Mr Collins was delightfully overdone which goes down well in comedy. Certainly no worse than that property developer I tried to get an extra $100,000 out of.


  9. on September 23, 2008 at 07:08 Lost in Austen, Episode Three Review: Miss Amanda Regrets « Jane Austen’s World

    […] My review of Episode Two Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)BBC Pride & Prejudice: Monthly Discussion (Part I)Why there was no post on MondayPride and Prejudice: Netherfield BallTV Review: Lost In Austen, ITV1, Wednesday 10 September, 9pm […]


  10. on October 8, 2008 at 09:47 Catherine Delors

    It sounds wonderful! Maybe truer to Austen’s comedic genius than the “serious” adaptations of the novels, which can never measure up.
    I have to see if I can get of hold of this in France.


  11. on November 10, 2008 at 10:55 Lost in Austen « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Amanda’s Zany Journey Continues, Episode Two […]


  12. on March 24, 2009 at 02:37 Perdida em Austen | Jane Austen em português

    […] Austen’s World: One, Two, Three, […]


  13. on October 6, 2009 at 15:26 kim

    Amanda to Darcy: “Why else would I marry a muppet like Mr. Collins?” A MUPPET! That’s hilarious.


  14. on September 7, 2010 at 19:21 The Austen Tattler: News and Gossip on the Blogosphere « Austenprose

    […] week, and you can catch up on all the dish at AustenBlog. You can read reviews of Episode 2 at Jane Austen’s World, & Austenprose. This critic gives it a thumbs up, but needs to use another first line phrase […]


  15. on February 6, 2013 at 09:02 Lost in Austen (P&P challenge #1) « Journey of a Dutch Witch

    […] Austen World reviews (episode 1, episode 2, episode 3, episode […]



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