Pride and Prejudice (2003)

I noticed right away that there was something off about this modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, but I should have known what it was, and I didn't. For one thing, if I had noticed the subtitle: Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy, that might have clued me in. Also, I could have read the synopsis which describes this Lizzie as a student at Brigham Young University. I did not notice that. I just noticed as I watched the first few scenes that the film seemed oddly clean, everyone soap-opera shiny and talking in this sort of wooden way, as if they were reading off cue cards.

When Lydia (not me, the character, in the movie, the slutty one) said "You're not going to be ready for the party" and Lizzie said "What party?" and Lydia said "You should pay attention in church" - that was my first clue. I thought, "Oh! It's Christian." Then someone mentioned that they were in Utah, and I finally understood. It's not just Christian, it's Mormon. I guess if you're making a new version of a novel which is very familiar, and which has been adapted a ton of times, the best way to go about it is to do something new and unexpected. And I really wasn't expecting LDS, despite all the clues. So I guess that's something.

Film versions of Austen's novels are thick on the ground, and I'm always a little wary of a new adaptation - what are you going to add? Clueless stands out, because it is based on Emma, but not awkwardly so - Clueless does not constantly remind you that it is Austen. It is very possible to watch Clueless and never know that it is based on Emma. This Pride and Prejudice on the other hand constantly refers to its Austeniness, with odd intertitles from the novel (e.g. "A fortnight passed..."-Pride and Prejudice), as well as lifted character names and occasional bits of dialogue. As a movie, Pride and Prejudice is pretty lame. But I'm interested in the fact there is a production company making movies "by Mormons, about Mormons, and for Mormons." I like the idea of little movie companies that make little movies for specific audiences. It should encourage diversity and innovation, in general. So I guess I approve.