Hello, My Movievaures! I hope you are enjoying the holidays if you have some in August. I’m back with a new Netflix movie article: Persuasion. You might have not heard much about this movie, because it wasn’t actually really promoted. However, my curiosity was immediately piqued when I saw it appear on my Netflix home page because I LOVE period dramas, mainly based on Jane Austen’s novels. So, was it as good as I was expecting? As usual, let’s get into the non-spoilers section before:

Based on Jane Austen’s novel of the same name, Persuasion follows Anne Elliot, an aristocratic who is living in deep sadness after she was forced to leave behind her the love of her life who was not a good fit for her stature. Drowning in the platitude of her daily life, she is overwhelmed when Frederick Wentworth, this past love crashes back into her life, not knowing if his feelings are the same as hers.

I would say this Netflix adaptation could be summarized in one sentence: when Fleabag meats Jane Austin. The entire movie is seen through Anne’s eyes, and she constantly breaks the third wall and addresses her thoughts and feelings to us, spectators. This is not uncommon now, and I actually quite enjoyed it because Dakota Johnson’s acting is just splendid. I think she quite nailed her character and I would say it was the highlight of the movie.

Indeed, she is fun, smart, and overall a very endearing character. Unfortunately, the rest does not follow the same path. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t awful and I cannot really compare it to the book as I haven’t read it. None of the less, there are some things that quite bothered me. I was expecting the ending because is a lite motive in Austen’s storylines, but I was expecting better alchemy between the two main lovers. I get that we are introduced to them after their first separation, but anyways it didn’t feel as strong as the story wants to make us believe.

In the end, I still had a nice time watching this movie. Is not as good as Pride and Prejudice, but it does the job! If you are fond of period dramas, this will certainly be good entertainment. Even if William’s storyline was in my opinion wasted, or at least it felt messy as if his love for this other woman was only there to make things easier for Anne in the end. Let me know what your thoughts are on this movie and I’ll see you next week for a new article on The Movievaures!