Sense & Sensibility

6.2 stars.

The thought came to me about 10 minutes into the movie that if I want to watch Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility', I will simply revert back to the one and only that I've seen. This being about 29 years ago, and I was profoundly moved by that version. We all know I'm referring to the one with Thompson and Winslet. I don't particularly have any desire to ponder whether or not there's any other version to consider. The 1995 version was such perfection for me, it will be difficult justifying the allocation of my precious time to watching this one. I think Hallmark is being pretentious by creating another film based solely on the unadulterated novel itself. They should have added some twists and tweaks like they recently did with the pride and prejudice film. Trying to make an authentic remake of the original movie was a risky endeavor that did not pay off. I let the meter run for a good 30 to 40 minutes and realized this falls way flat. So I move onward to the next Hallmark film in my library. Cheerio.

Hallmark needs to stay in its lane and stick to pumping out crappy romcoms; under no circumstances should they try to remake a classic. This version is an affront to all things Jane Austen and the multiple Oscar nominated Ang Lee version.

The lack of chemistry between the "romantic" leads is appalling. The costumes are apparently an effort to replicate the worst of the Featherington girls in Bridgerton. The acting is wooden, especially by the males. Willoughby, supposed to be a charming bad guy, comes across like a robot.

The whole thing was a cluttered, disjointed, unorganized mess.

The rating of two is entirely because of the scenery. Period.

If you like romance, you like Jane Austen, you like the original story of sense and sensibility, you'll like this but I agree with another review here the costumes are awful, the crushed velvet and the weird floral and purple and black terrible terrible terrible and not accurate. The acting was OK. If you really want to make it a POC adaptation, then make everyone a person of color and call it a day. Nobody really cares, but you seem to want it to be like the new Bridgerton. Of course the homes were beautiful the scenery was beautiful. The cottage was much much nicer than the Ang Lee adaptation-that cottage was pretty sparse in comparison to where the Dashwoods had come from. I do hope coming soon they have a marathon of all these movies on a Saturday or Sunday. It was enjoyable to be in Jane Austen.

One question - why?

Why on earth did this remake have to be made?

I say this as one who loves this book it is my second favourite Austen novel (after Persuasion) and I have read it multiple times and seen various versions on screen. And this... this drivel is an insincere adaption and the acting is awful, the accents iffy and it seems hurried and forced.

There's no romance at all you never feel the couples falling for each other. Wooden as. Poor poor Jane! Even the presence of the brilliant Martina Laird did nothing for me.

I kept on comparing it to the Ang Lee masterpiece. I have long believed Emma Thompson is Elinor Dashwood no one else will ever be able to fill those shoes. And this proves it.

Simply awful.

I'm sure theses are lovely and talented actors but the performances here just do not convey any emotion or feeling. This adaption was very choppy and rushed not allowing the time in scenes when needed in order to express the necessary emotions. I have enjoyed the other JA movies on Hallmark this month but sadly this one misses the mark. I have seen several of the performers in different vehicles and portrayals were great so perhaps the failure here is the script or direction. Watch this for yourself if you want to decide for yourself or perhaps take my advice and watch one of the other excellent adaptations.