“A pair of best friends set out to have a legendary week-long summer vacation with the help of cheap rosé and a group of eclectic friends.” -IMDB
I hear the name Jane Austen, and I come running.
So when I learned there was a Pride and Prejudice-based film that included the hilarious Bowen Yang (you may recognize him as the man-slaughtering Titanic iceberg from SNL), I was all in. And, for the most part, this film delivered an updated, clever version of the multi-layered classic. Let me clarify…
This is a good summer-lovin-had-me-a-blast film for most audience members, but I think it will mean quite a bit more to anyone one is a fan of the original source material. Seeing the ways in which the Bennett Family & Co are updated and adjusted for a 21st century setting is brilliant, but feels natural as well.
Joel Kim Booster and Yang specifically stand out as the modern Jane and Elizabeth Bennett and the two have a natural chemistry as best friends. Booster also wrote and produced the film and you can feel his connection to the material throughout the film.
Although the movie was a bit clunky, with maybe a slight lack of subtly at times, it was otherwise (as is the original) an uplifting story of romance, family (biological or found), and growth. And in these darker days we find ourselves in, couldn’t we all use a dose of the uplifting? I. SAY. YES.
Rating: 6 out 10 Claire Bears
If you like this movie, you should also watch: Pride and Prejudice, Love, Simon
Streaming: Hulu
With: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho, Conrad Ricamora
Directed By: Andrew Ahn
Let Me Clarify 