Lost in Austen - Reviewed

Take one of the most popular novels, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, sprinkle a bit of magic and stick in a modern girl. That is basically what ‘Lost in Austen’ is all about.

Now I’m no fan of these types of books or the telly adaptations. Even though I do like period dramas, mine involve war or people getting murdered – not love stories about posh wazzocks! But you know what? This works!

Written by Guy Andrews and directed by Dan Zeff, of ‘Doctor Who: Love and Monsters’ fame, it already has some decent starting blocks. Add to that the lovely Jemima Rooper (As If, Hex, Sinchronicity) and a decent support cast including, Hugh Bonneville, Alex Kingston, Gemma Atherton, Elliot Cowan, Tom Riley and Christina Cole, then it should be decent runner!

Amanda Price (Rooper) is sick of her life, stuck in a job which doesn’t appreciate her, a pig of a boyfriend who appreciates her even less, she amuses herself in a good old romantic novel to escape. However when she finds one of the books characters, Elizabeth Bennet (Atherton) in her bathroom she thinks she going mad. But when they accidently swap places, through Amanda’s ‘magic bathroom door’, she ends up in the world of ‘Pride and Prejudice’!

It’s quite amusing seeing the modern girl trying to fit in with society there. It’s very well acted from all involved, as Amanda, in her own words ‘totally buggers up the plot of the book', as she tries to set things right! Her mission takes a nose dive when she encounters the much-talked about Mr Darcy (Elliot Cowan), who isn’t anything like he is in the books and films!

There are plenty of priceless moments and quick-witted one liners. However, due to copyright issues, the scene with Amanda singing Petula Clark’s ‘Downtown’ at the bemused 19th Century characters, won’t be on the DVD unfortunately!

It’s one for the girls to be honest but lads can learn a lot from it too – like how to behave properly! Some negative things I do have about it, is the lack of coverage of Elizabeth in the modern world. We just hear she has been working as a nanny and has been hanging around with Amanda’s friend. I just felt that it would have been better if we had a situation, totally opposite to what Amanda was experiencing. Another thing was the lack of explanation behind the ‘magic door’ and how it all worked. Maybe that’s just the science-fiction geek inside me and I’m not partial to the odd bit of magic!

However, it’s an interesting concept which works extremely well. It won’t encourage me to read any of Jane Austen’s books but I don’t really have to, after seeing this! It’ll be interesting to read the views on this by fans of the book, which I’m sure will sell a few more copies! It’s well worth a look and I would encourage you to give it a go!

8/10

The DVD is out now from ITV and all good retailers.

http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/5164969/Lost-In-Austen/Product.html