The adaptation of one of Jane Austen’s most beloved novels, Pride and Prejudice, has had a renaissance thanks to TikTok. Now, it seems Netflix would like to cash in on what they think the teens of today would want to see out of an Austen novel.

The Plot

Anne Elliot (Dakota Johnson) was persuaded not to marry a dashing man due to his rank. Thanks to a chance encounter, will she get a second chance with her long-lost love? Or will she be persuaded to take a different path when she meets the debonair Mr. Elliot (Henry Golding)?

Anne Elliot

Persuasion is one of Austen’s most sophisticated novels. When I learned Dakota Johnson would be taking on the role of Anne Elliot, I was ecstatic! She has the poise, grace, and maturity that the character needs. It takes a lot of gumption to be an Austen girl. You need to be strong and independent yet elegant and delicate. Johnson has all of these qualities, and they shine on screen. In fact, she’s the best thing about this film.

The Shadow of Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is still a top-tier movie today because it sweeps you off your feet. Not only is the chemistry off the charts between Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen, but the score is sweeping, and the camera work is engaging. It makes you feel like you are falling in love. Unfortunately, any Austen adaptation following the 2005 remake will live in its shadow.

Is It Bad?

This feels like a Netflix movie. I don’t mean that badly, just that it has the same pacing and style as a Netflix Romantic Comedy. It’s almost as if the writers and director got in a room and said, “How can we make this decades-old story relatable to a teenage audience.” And that would have worked if they leaned into that theory a little bit more. If they would have used the Bridgerton beat, I think this would have worked. Simply using the music of today set to the style of that decade would have changed the entire mood. Or go the Dickenson route and fully lean into the millennial humor. It almost did that when Anne scrounges through her “Ex box” and finds a playlist, which is just piano sheet music.

Besides Anne, the only other character who isn’t flat is Mary Musgrove (Mia Mckenna-Bruce). For almost a second, when she is introduced, you believe a young version of Florence Pugh is on screen. Unfortunately, her character is underutilized and leaves too soon.

Another minus is the chemistry. Anne is supposed to be in love with Wentworth (Cosmo Jarvis), but there’s nothing there. He is never shown as this dashing and humble man, only a scorned one. Johnson does, however, have phenomenal chemistry with Golding. Maybe if the two men swapped roles, we would have had a different outcome. Is it a bad movie? No, but it could have been better.

The Fourth-Wall

It’s too easy to compare this adaptation to Fleabag. Yes, the fourth wall is broken throughout the film, but this is not a new style that comedy series created. It has been used in film and television for years. So no, I will not say this is a Fleabag rip-off. I will say the fourth-wall breaks are the best parts of this movie. Without them, I feel it would have been drab and boring because there is nothing else engaging you with the story.

What Worked

Honestly, Persuasion is a happy surprise. Dakota Johnson shines on screen. Her sheer presence is attention-worthy. Her natural expressions of love, happiness, fear, and misery were perfectly painted on her face. There’s also a more present playfulness in this film than in the other Austen movies. It could have been boring, but the cheeky fourth-wall breaks save it.

The Verdict

I honestly don’t know how to feel. There are parts that I loved and parts that I didn’t care for at all. This film doesn’t have the same romanticism in the storytelling as its predecessors. The main characters lack chemistry giving us nothing to root for. It is quirky in a good way but never fully leans into being a millennial period piece like Dickenson. Dakota Johnson is excellent and carries the film on her back. The moments where she side-eyes the camera are perfection.

Unfortunately, Persuasion can’t shine through Pride and Prejudice’s shadow. If you love Austen, give it a chance. You may not be happy, but it’s not a waste of time. If you like period pieces that seem more like a 2000’s romantic comedy, this one is for you. It may not wholly lean into the genre, but it’s fun. And Henry Golding is eye candy, so there’s that.