Sense & Sensibility

No. Just no.

This version should never have been made. The acting was incredibly horrible. Such.bad.acting.

I am SO disappointed. I adore all Jane Austen books. I HAVE all Jane Austen books. And the movies.

The man who plays Willoughby is soooo boring and dull.

And the women's clothes!!!!! We're like like...Whatttt??? They were not authentic at all, not in the least. Oh, be still my heart.

I do like the actor who plays Sir John Middleton. He did an adequate job.

The storyline felt very rushed. There was no chemistry between those who were "supposed" to be in love. None.

Ughhhh. Skip this one altogether.

I adore Jane Austen and I found this to be my least favorite of the four Austen inspired Hallmark 2024 Love-uary offerings. I went in with an open mind and while I appreciated a more true to the story telling of Sense and Sensibility, I feel like they didn't have the time to do it justice. I continually found myself thinking of the 1995 Ang Lee version and comparing actors. The other thoughts I had were around the casting choices made by Hallmark's Mahogany and how in the time of Bridgerton this seemed really unnecessary and at times inappropriate.

When the casting takes you away from the story, I think you have let your audience down. Especially if the goal is to introduce a wonderful story to a new audience.

The Jane Austen story that this attempts to tell is that of the Dashwood sisters (two in particular) who are displaced from their family estate when their father passes away leaving their half brother to inherit everything. Left destitute thanks to their brother not fulfilling his promise of seeing to his step-mother and three step-sisters, in part thanks to his greedy social climbing wife who has his ear, the Dashwood women end up in a modest dwelling on a distant cousin's property.

Elinore , the eldest Dashwood sister, falls hard for her sister-in-law's half brother, who is believed to be quite above her station in her current position. While Marianne, the younger and more romantic sister, is dreaming of the dashing and Devil may care Willoughby, all while a certain Colonel Brandon is watching from the sideline.

It is a lovely story that I encourage you to pick up and read...I am just not sure I can endorse this film, through no real fault of the actors. And while I appreciate the attempt to breathe new life into a classic story, I think this falls short of doing said story justice. Not a recommendation to my fellow romantics.

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.

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.

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.