I had serious misgivings about seeing this film, but the literature nerd side of my personality won out and I found myself in queue with a ticket in my hand. Thankfully, Pride & Prejudice exceeded my humble expectations. The movie doesn’t deviate too far afield from the plot of Jane Austen’s novel: the Bennet household, which includes five daughters of marriageable age, is set abuzz by the arrival of two wealthy bachelors, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, in Hertfordshire. At first there seems to be a natural attraction between Mr. Bingley and the beautiful Jane Bennet and a natural antipathy between the dour Mr. Darcy and the witty, independent Elizabeth Bennet, but when the duo of gentleman suddenly retire from the country to the society of the city, something seems to be amiss. Overall, the acting in Pride & Prejudice is fine work. Donald Sutherland is especially wonderful as the beleaguered, yet wise, Mr. Bennet. Keira Knightly seems to have stolen a page from Winona Ryder’s book of tricks (before Winona started nicking clothes from designer boutiques, that is) in her portrayal of Elizabeth, but she delivers Lizzie’s sharp critiques with a good deal of aplomb. My only criticism of this movie is that in a few scenes the director went for the obvious “Harlequin moment” of melodramatic romance. Shirts come undone, showing a crop of manly chest hair, the music swells as the man advances toward his beloved, etc. Those cheap shots bring down what is otherwise an enjoyable adaptation of a classic novel.

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