Netflix made a mistake in releasing this 2022 adaptation of the classic written by Jane Austen. It has been universally acknowledged by Jane Austen fans, like myself, that it is not a good film. Comparing it to the original novel and other adaptations makes it fall incredibly short. “Persuasion” is a frustrating film because it ignores why readers are in love with these characters.
The modernization of Jane Austen books has given us exceptional films such as “Clueless.” In this movie, they only bring “Persuasion” halfway into today. The set is modernized, but they did not change the costumes to match. This discord only frustrated me.
Also, the incorporation of modern sarcasm did not fit. Sarcasm would make a great deal of sense in an adaptation of a book like “Emma”. This does not work here because of Anne Elliot’s character in the novel. One of the reasons why I love the novel so much was because of Anne’s character. She is timid and unsure of herself, which is why the premise of her rejecting Captain Wentworth makes sense. Replacing those aspects with sarcasm undermines the credibility of the storyline.
The change of Anne Elliot’s character impacted the entire film because it fails to capture the book’s beautiful romance. When Anne and Captain Wentworth end up together, it feels forced. It does not build up the same feeling you get when reading the book, which is one of the most important things to do in adaptation. This is because of the elements cut from the book. The relationship between Captain Wentworth and Anne’s cousin Henrietta was glossed over. Even minor changes in the story and the exclusion of certain relationship dynamics fueled my distaste of this film. For example, they removed the comedic feud between Anne’s sister and her mother-in-law.
The two-hour movie is difficult for a reader who loves “Persuasion,” and the lesson here is that Netflix should not try to create classics. It will not entice fans of the books because the filmmakers will not stay true to the original characters.
Title: Persuasion (2022)
Director: Carrie Cracknell
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Cosmo Jarvis
If you like: The “After” series
Rating: 1 shamrock
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