The Jane Austen and Brontes Newsletter Issue #7 Recapping "An American in Austen"
If the purists thought 2005 Pride & Prejudice was terrible...
(Note: Substack is saying this post is too long for email so you’ll need to click on the post to read the whole post.)
Premise: Harriet, who thinks that no real man compares to Mr. Darcy, is transported into Pride & Prejudice and gets an unexpected chance to find out. Starring Eliza Bennett (Harriet) and Nicholas Bishop (Darcy).
Story: We meet Harriet (Eliza Bennett THE IRONY) who is a writer slash librarian. She’s stuck on a story when a young patron comes up and is over reading Love in the Time of Cholera so Harriet recommends Pride and Prejudice because it has everything (love, family, heartbreak - I mean, she’s not wrong).
Her boyfriend swoops in and takes her out for their anniversary dinner. Her boss calls her sweetie, like, what? Who DOES that?
Harriet notices her phone is missing and her boyfriend, Ethan, says oh, you must have left it in the library. They return to the library and shazam! Rose petals are on the floor and the boyfriend strums a guitar and sings so badly, it’s cringe worthy. Anyway, he proposes and she says maybe.
Later that night, she hangs out with her best friends, swigging wine, and drunkenly contemplates her life choices and why she said, “maybe.” All three women see a shooting star which they think means something so all three wish.
Her friends throw her in a cab, where she promptly falls asleep and wakes up in the back of a carriage.
The carriage rolls up to what we now know is Longbourn where an very excitable Bennet family meet cousin Harriet from America.
Harriet, of course, is convinced that Ethan has put this together to convince her to change her “maybe” to a “yes.” The Bennet sisters excitedly get Harriet into Regency wear to go to the ball at Meryton where we meet Bingley and Darcy per the book.
Some passable lines from the book are said and Darcy haughtily tells Bingley no woman is tolerable enough for him which spurs Harriet to stomp over to tell Darcy that he being stupid (in so many words) in rejecting Elizabeth and stomps back to Lizzie and Charlotte and they go off somewhere.
Cut to commercial.
It’s the following day and Harriet still remains convinced that she’s in some great facade when she wakes up to Kitty giggling and gets Harriet into another corset and gown.
The Bennet sisters and Harriet head to Meryton to shop where Harriet thinks she sees Ethan so she chases after him. When he assumes she’s a beggar, and she realizes that he is indeed not Ethan, she faints.
Jane and Lizzie are hovering over Harriet as she convalesces on a settee wondering if Harriet has gone mad. Harriet points out that she can hear them when Mrs. Bennet shows up with a letter from Netherfield for Jane and we know what happens next. (Caroline Bingley invites Jane to Netherfield but Charles is, of course, dining out.)
Mrs. Bennet sends Jane on horseback where she arrives at Netherfield sneezing delicately (it literally said this on the close caption). The next morning finds Lizzie and Harriet stomping (they like to stomp) across the fields to Netherfield, dragging their skirts and boots through mud.
Commercial break.
The next scene is Lizzie and Harriet are entering Netherfield, pointed shots of their muddy footprints. Caroline says the outdoors is the outdoors and the girls look like they have been through pigpens. Bingley takes Lizzie to see Jane while Harriet has Darcy take her to the library. They converse about books and they discuss Ethan where Harriet mentions that she never felt like this (i.e. discussing how she feels for Darcy), and he pipes up, “Like a library?” Oh, that scamp.
We next find Darcy, Harriet, Caroline, and Charles in the sitting room where Caroline throws out the “enraptured by your sister” to Darcy who has now moved his attention to Harriet who is getting crumbs of something or another across her bodice. Elizabeth enters the room and Darcy ignores her while mentioning his sister would be really adore Harriet which then Harriet tries to throw the compliments over to Elizabeth. Darcy starts sparing with Elizabeth who is clearly giving no mind to Darcy.
We are then in the night where Harriet is wandering around the gardens with a lantern where Darcy appears out of nowhere. Some things are said but I missed it as Mr. Lisa started talking to me about the incredulous of the movie.
Harriet hustles away from Darcy.
Commercial break.
We are now at the following morning and Jane is feeling much better.
Jane’s eyebrows are like two caterpillars that died above her eye sockets.
Harriet tells Jane and Lizzie she can see the future. Jane scoffs but Lizzie believes her because Harriet foretold the muddy hems and the pig pen comment from Caroline. Lizzie and Jane ask who they are going to marry and Harriet of course tells Jane it’s Bingley for her which both girls clap in glee. When Lizzie asks who she is going to marry, “and will he be tall and dashing?,” Harriet coughs her answer which Lizzie prompts to speak clearer and Harriet drops the truth bomb it’s Darcy. Lizzie calls Harriet cruel and runs off.
As Jane, Lizzie, and Harriet leave Netherfrield, Darcy hands Harriet a copy of Evelina by Fanny Burney because Harriet told him how much the book influenced her. We next see the family having dinner with Mr Collins and instead of the infamous “what excellent boiled potatoes” from the 2005 movie, Collins drones on and on about the pea soup. Collins then inquirers about Jane as a potential bride when Mrs. Bennet cuts him off that Jane is soon to be engaged and then offers up Lizzie and then Mary.
The next scene is of all the Bennet girls (and Harriet and Mrs. Bennet) hanging out in the waiting area outside of Mr. Bennet’s office when the door opens and Mr. Bennet proclaims that he’s given his permission for Collins to marry Mary (hah!) which Harriet then violently protests and asks Collins if there is someone, perhaps outside the family, that he would prefer?
The family thinks Harriet is even madder than previously thought.
Harriet and Mary have a heart to heart where Harriet tells her that she doesn’t need to marry if she is not happy with the choice. Mary smiles and tells Harriet it’s her duty to marry and if it’s Collins, so be it.
Commercial break
The Bennet girls and Harriet are in Meryton looking at bonnet when!
Mr. Wickham appears!
And so does Bingley and Darcy on horseback.
(I get Harriet thinks Darcy is dreamy but he’s not that great looking imho. He’s no Matthew McFayden or Colin Firth.)
Anyway, Bingley asks the ladies to a ball at Netherfield when Darcy starts quoting Lord Byron to Harriet who then tells him he’s plagiarized Byron. Darcy haughtily retorts that he’s now got a reason to write poetry.
Harriet tags along Lizzie and Wickham when Harriet drops the truth bombs Wickham spent his inheritance from the older Darcy. Wickham says nothing and Lizzie gets angry at Harriet.
Later, Harriet tells Lizzie she’s not lying and that Wickham will not appear at the Bingley ball.
At the ball, a “duchess” shows up as this is supposedly who the ball is for but no idea who this character is to represent because it is not Lady Catherine DeBurgh.
Anyway, Harriet keeps meddling trying to right the book and Collins comes over looking for Mary who is no where to be found so Harriet introduces Collins to Charlotte. Collins is now enraptured.
Mr. Wickham shows up at the ball and now Harriet is out of sorts.
Commercial break.
Darcy proposes to Harriet at Netherfield ball.
Harriet says that now she’s gotten what she’s wanted, a proposal from Darcy, she realizes this is not what she’s wanted. She tells Darcy she is not the woman for him as she’s in love with another man. Darcy proclaims he will never love again and storms off.
Harriet tells Lizzie she’s with the wrong man and Lizzie says Harriet is right, she wasn’t feeling herself. She says she now feels better and goes back to Wickham.
Next scene sees Harriet has a monologue while looking outside her window and quotes Taylor Swift. “Hi. It’s me. I’m the problem. It’s me. She really is a voice of a generation.”
Harriet is now visibly upset because she doesn’t know if she’s ever going to be able to leave and see Ethan again now that she knows that her love is really with him and not with the fantasy of Darcy.
Commercial break. (Hallmark is big on commercials and ads for upcoming Hallmark movies and shows.)
Jane gets the letter that Bingley has decamped to London. Harriet tells Jane she must go and tell Bingley she loves them so they too head to London. At the Bingley residence, Jane confesses that a future without Charles makes her sad. Caroline says it’s most inappropriate.
Next scene is a very sad Jane and a perplexed Harriet who laments that this has not gone the way she’s planned.
Back at Longbourn, Harriet chats with Mrs. Bennet who tells her that yes, she might be overbearing but she knows all to well a future where an unmarried is not the life she wants for her daughters.
In the house, Jane screams as she has a note from Lizzy she has run off with Wickham! Harriet is now beyond upset and recounts to Jane how the story is all wrong now (Collins and Mary, Lizzie with Wickham, Darcy proclaiming his love for Harriet). Harriet proclaims “I’ve got this” and rushes out the door and into Darcy who is rehearsing an apology for Lizzie. Harriet grabs Darcy and tells him Lizzie has run away with Wickham and she needs his carriage. Darcy comes along and says there is but one place they would have gone to.
Commercial break.
Lizzie and Wickham are in a church while the pastor asks if her family gives her away. She proclaims she is there by the courage of her own conviction. Of course, right when the pastor pronounces them man and wife, Harriet and Darcy rush in. Darcy tells Wickham, enough is enough and what will it take this time for Wickham to leave and never come back. Lizzie is aghast and that Wickham truly loves her but Wickham tells Darcy 10,000 pounds will do the trick and tells Lizzie they must speak quite plainly Lizzie’s dowry will not cover his debts.
Lizzie runs out of the church clearly upset and Harriet follows. Lizze and Harriet apologize to each other. Darcy comes out and the three decamp to carriage to head home where now Lizzie and Darcy are now in the process of falling in love.
Harriet stops the carriage and walks the rest of the way to Longbourn.
Later, we are back at Longbourn, the sisters, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, and Harriet are picnicking when a letter from Collins arrives.
Mr. Bennet reads it and declares that Collins is calling off the engagement. Mrs. Bennet needs smelling salts.
Darcy and Bingley arrive at Longbourn. Bingley desires an audience with Jane. Alone.
Bingley tells Jane he would regret not marrying her, he pops the proposal, and they make out. How very not Regency.
Mrs. Bennet and the remaining sisters (and Harriet) are enthralled.
Darcy and Lizzie are outside chatting and Darcy confesses he believes Jane to be indifferent. Lizzie tells Darcy she is not indifferent after Darcy tells her he has a second purpose coming to Longbourn. He proposes, Lizzie accepts, and they make out.
Harriet watches Darcy and Lizzie and walks away, thrilled things are falling into place.
Commercial break.
The Bennets, Harriet, Bingley, and Darcy are celebrating the new engagements.
The story is now correct.
Harriet heads to bed where she starts to read Evelina and falls asleep.
We now find Harriet waking up at the back of the cab she entered at the beginning of the movie. As the cabbie tells Harriet to scam from the cab, she moves and finds herself sitting on the copy of Evelina. “It was real!”
(There is no explanation if this was a supposed dream of some sort, why she’s still wearing her Regency night clothes.)
She rides a scooter to Ethan’s house and pushes the button to get into his apartment. She starts pouring out her heart to his door voicemail but wait! Ethan was standing behind her the entire time! He heard everything!
They hug!
Harriet and Ethan make up! She tells him he’s the only inspiration she needs and he’s her wish come true.
She proposes!
He says “Maybe!”
They make out.
Fast forward, they are now married and she’s reading from her new novel at a reading. The crowd claps and the camera pans to her book called, get this, An American in Austen.
Thoughts: In the series “Lost in Austen” (2009), Amanda Price, a 30 something Londoner, is obsessed with Pride & Prejudice and wants a Darcy of her own. She discovers one night that a door in her bathroom leads her to Meryton in Regency era. She and Lizzie Bennet swap places so Amanda is living in Regency and Lizzie is in 21st C London. Tl;dr: Amanda stays in Meryton with Darcy and Lizzie loves London in the 21st C. The end.
I think “An American in Austen” pulled inspiration from “Lost in Austen” and slapped it together with Pride & Prejudice and it failed. The movie is just so messy. It’s trying to do so much within 1.5 hours (without commercials). “Lost in Austen” is four episodes long which gives it time to breathe and grow. The acting is stiff. You really want to root for Harriet and at times she’s almost charming but it floats past.
Overall: meh.