'Jane Austen Wrecked My Life' Review: The in-betweens of pride and prejudice

Despite the familiarity it inevitably brings in tow, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life has just enough earnest chemistry, stark moments of comedy, and a likable cast to recommend

In Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (2025), the devotion for its inspiration comes early on in the film. On the way to a residency of like minded authors looking to be inspired by two weeks in the English countryside, our protagonist Agathe explains to a skeptical descendent of Austen why her work is so important. She explains how, until Austen’s breadth of work, the perspective of women had largely come from male authors. Until Austen broke the mold, women were seen more as ideas than fully fleshed-out characters. Though passing at 41 years old, Austen’s contributions to literature and romantic fiction continue to inspire readers and fellow writers hundreds of years later. Notable works Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice would go on to inspire beloved film adaptations, as well as Emma, which spawned many interpretations (Emma (1996), Emma (2020), and my personal favorite, Clueless (1995)).

It’s this early admiration for Austen and literature in general that helps give Laura Piani’s feature-length debut Jane Austen Wrecked My Life so much distinction amongst its romantic comedy contemporaries. Though the film has a familiar formula that it leans into far too often, the film is strengthened by its ensemble’s strong chemistry, unexpected bursts of humor, and appreciation for all things lit. The way the film builds a solid foundation beneath its lead character and her aspirations helps to propel the film above its peers just enough to recommend, despite any minor shortcomings.

Agathe (Camille Rutherford) works at Shakespeare and Company as a bookseller in France, living with her sister and her sister’s child. Agathe is caught in the middle of a few different interpersonal and internal conflicts. Still grappling with the death of her parents from a car accident, she cycles everywhere she goes and is afraid to step foot in a car. Her writing has hit a standstill, outside of the first few chapters of a novel she recently penned. Finally, her love life is nonexistent—the closest thing she’s found to action in the last two years is the occasional makeout break with her co-worker and best friend Félix (Pablo Pauly). When Félix submits her writing to the Jane Austen Residency to give her career a boost, Agathe accepts, despite her hesitation. Her first interaction with the aforementioned Oliver (Charlie Anson), a great-great-great-great nephew of Austen, goes south, but she quickly begins to open up and find her voice again. As she circumvents her past trauma, she begins warming up to Oliver’s deep-seated charm… but will her feelings conflict with her on-again, off-again fling with Félix?

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life has a similar structure to other romantic comedies that preceded it. It’s a formula that works well within the genre to showcase the pitfalls of a main character as the writers slowly allow them to let down their defenses and find a way to grow past them. Some examples that come to mind are Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) and Bridesmaids (2011). However, the only real issue with how Piani structures the story is the lack of depth in Agathe’s love triangle. Félix is briefly introduced in the film’s opening 20 minutes and is quickly thrown off to the side as soon as Agathe leaves for the residency, thus leaving a gap in our affection for one character over the other. The same can be said for Oliver. While their establishment in the beginning is strong and it’s clear why they don’t initially mesh with one another, their romantic connection is solid. All of this leads into a finale that can’t help but feel a little rushed in their reconciliation, though some of that’s excusable because Rutherford and Anson’s chemistry is so strong.

Thankfully, the chemistry of the film’s cast extends into the ensemble as well. Some of the film’s most interesting bonds come from Agathe gaining perspective on literature with those staying at the Residency. One of the film’s strongest moments comes from an impassioned argument between Agathe and fellow writer Rosemarie (Laurence Pierre) about the reasoning for why literature is so important. Agathe suggests the emotional attachment and escapism that literature has on the soul, as she often forgets that she’s human when reading a great book, while Rosemarie states the political impact that writing has is a far greater reward. It’s scenes like this, as well as Agathe’s defense of Austen’s importance, that give the film personality beyond its structure and weak character interactions. While Jane Austen Wrecked My Life may not scratch the itch for anyone seeking a narrative that pushes the boundaries of its set-up, Piani’s script and direction clearly have ambition and a profound sense of self.

B

Feature image credit to Sony Pictures Classics via Next Best Picture