Sense & Sensibility 2024 Review

It is a truth universally acknowledge that if a new Jane Austen adaptation is released, I must watch it. ::sighs:: I’m way behind on reviewing Hallmark’s new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, but in my defense, I was only able to watch a couple of weeks ago. It aired on the Hallmark Channel back in February; I don’t have cable so I had to find a place online to watch it. Special thanks to the kind soul who let me know where I could find it. If you’d like to see it, go here.

Now, onto my unorganized review.

We’re all familiar with the story: It is a tale of two sisters who dearly love each other, but couldn’t be more different if they tried. At first, they are unlucky in love and then later do make good matches for themselves. For me the love story is really between the sisters, that whatever may happened to them in life and in romance, in the end Elinore and Marianne only have each other.

Before I give my thoughts on this adaptation, let’s address the main complaint I’ve encountered regarding this version. Some viewers have criticized this movie for being Woke, because it dared to cast people of color in it. For Pete’s sake, it’s 2024! History has been white washed. People of color did exist in the Georgian and Regency eras, they moved in society, they fell in love and made matches. If you don’t want to watch this adaptation, fine, but please don’t insult it simply because the cast and crew are people of color.

What did I think? In general, I enjoyed it. I’m not a fan of Hallmark Productions, unless they’re Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. The usual Hallmark movies follow the same tired out formula. Now, since this is an adaptation of a classic, it doesn’t follow their formula and we do have a decent movie. The film quality was a step up, as were the locations, and the set design. I hope Hallmark considers adapting more classics, since this one was a win. I do have a few criticisms.

1. The movie hit all of the book’s highlights but things felt rushed at times. I wanted at least another hour for this adaptation, to spend more time in the Dashwood’s world.
2. In certain places it lacks in emotional range, contrasting the two sisters, showing the gravity of Marianne’s illness. Again, I think that is due to time constraints. If the movie were longer, it would have been able to flesh out everything.
3. It does rely heavily on Emma Thompson’s adaptation. Example: The character of Margaret is bigger and has been made into a tomboy, Lady Middleton is killed off, Sir John Middleton and Mrs. Jennings are especially close.  
4. When the Dashwood ladies move into Barton Cottage, we don’t feel the impact of them stepping down in society, or living in genteel poverty. They talk of their financial troubles, but it doesn’t seem real because Barton Cottage looks more like a mansion than a cottage. They looked like they just moved from one mansion to another.

Now, onto what I liked.

1. The age-appropriate actresses and actors. They may have been a little older than the characters they were portraying, but it wasn’t too drastic. We can tell Elinor and Marianne are both young and full of dreams, and they’re ready to fall in love. The one who plays Margaret is obviously their baby sister, but they don’t feel so much older for it to be impossible for them to be sisters.
2. No smutty opening scene of seducing 13-year-old Eliza Williams. The 2008 version opens with Willougby seducing a girl in the tackiest, most uncomfortable manner possible. It gives away the whole mystery of Willoughby, so when we heard about it later, it wasn’t a surprise. This version remains classy, respectful, family-friendly and follows Austen’s example by keeping it off-screen.
3. I’m not a costume expert or anything, but the costumes are crazy gorgeous. It gives the whole production a fairy-tale feel.
4. The actor who plays Sir John Middleton is hilarious. I was cracking up whenever he was on screen. And unlike previous versions, Mrs. Jennings isn’t plump or crude. Though she teases and gossips, she’s rather charming.
5. The Steele sisters are like they are in the book, but the one who plays Lucy took her manipulation tactics to another level. Kudos to her – you could tell in this adaptation that Lucy really enjoyed causing Elinor pain.
6. I really liked Edward in this version and he is always a hard character for me to like. You can see why Elinor falls in love with him.
7. Robert Ferrars is cute and a great coxcomb, just like his book counterpart. And I appreciated the hints o his and Lucy’s eventual attachment/marriage.
8. The age gap between Marianne and Brandon doesn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable, like it did in the 2008 version. You can slowly see Marianne falling in love with him; her changing her feelings towards him doesn’t feel that abrupt.
9. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer aren’t in this adaption, which was an interesting choice. But the way this adaptation was set up, they weren’t really needed.
10. Last but not least, the mention of historical figures! When Marianne and Willoughby discuss poetry, they mention reading Phyllis Wheatley. We often forget that Phyllis Wheatley was of that era, and the characters could have read her poetry. Also – the portraits of Dido Belle Lindsay and Olaudah Equiano are featured in the background in a couple of scenes.

So, yes, I recommend this version for any Austen lover and as I said, I hope Hallmark considers making more classic lit adaptations.

Have you watched Hallmark’s “Sense and Sensibility?” If so, what were your thoughts?

Until next time!