A
paltry effort from Paltrow!
The dramatisation of Austen's novel is badly done, implanting a humour on it that is decidedly tacky.
The scriptwriter makes an effort to improve upon Jane Austen by attaching extra scenes that are blatantly copied from other monumental works of fiction. Compare the carriage in the pond scene in this production with the car in the pond scene from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a literary work of equal stature it seems in the mind of the dramatist.
The only refreshing light in this travesty is Toni Collette's portrayal of Harriet Smith, and that is not great!
The film is filled with anachronisms, (take a close look at the toxopholy targets, and the plastic poles on the awning), terribly constructed 'non-Austen' dialogue ("try not to shoot my dog") and apalling ideas of English accents.
At least the tone was set by that ridiculous spinning globe at the begining. When it stopped, I was half expecting some vomit worthy Olivier style titling such as:
"It happened in little olde England, a long time ago..."
so I suppose I should be thankful for small mercies.