It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen has inspired more romcoms than any other author – and nearly all of them feature a modern take on an Austen protagonist, a new Lizzie Bennet or Emma Woodhouse. But this funny and smart French comedy instead gives us a 21st-century Jane Austen. British-French actor Camille Rutherford is terrific as Agathe, an aspiring novelist working in a Paris bookshop who wins a place on a Jane Austen writing retreat run by the author’s descendants.
“I’m not living in the right century!” Agathe wails to her best friend and colleague Félix (Pablo Pauly). She’s not into dating apps (“I don’t want Uber sex!”). But she does have chemistry with Félix (he’s a player, but not at Wickham levels of caddishness), and it’s Félix who secretly submits Agathe’s writing to a Jane Austen society. The comedy takes a bit of an IQ dip when the film crosses the Channel and the dialogue switches to English. Still, it glides along on Rutherford’s performance as Agathe – witty, warm, keenly observant, a bit clumsy and Bridget Jones-ish, but never, not even for a moment, cringy.
On the retreat, Agathe takes an instant loathing to Austen’s great-great-great-nephew Oliver (Charlie Anson); he’s a professor of modern literature who loftily proclaims that Austen is overrated. Judgmental, arrogant, and altogether up himself, Oliver is the film’s Mr Darcy – though played with too much Hugh Grant to take seriously. You don’t have to be an Austen fan to enjoy this film, but it helps. Agathe’s dilemma between Oliver and Félix is classic Austen – but Agathe’s real discovery is not love, but her writing voice. And that’s the point the film makes without trying too hard: new century, same self-pressure and doubt. Here’s Agathe on impostor syndrome. “No – I’m a genuine impostor!”
• Jane Austen Wrecked My Life is in UK cinemas from 13 June and Australian cinemas from 19 June.
