Jane Austen is considered a literary genius, and her work has inspired romance lovers for over 200 years. So when Netflix released a terrible trailer of its upcoming movie, Persuasion, based on Austen’s novel of the same name, fans were apprehensive.
The cast certainly looked like they belonged in the regency era, but they spoke like a Gen Z, who get most of their lingo from TikTok.
Dakota Johnson stars as Anne Elliot, who, after falling in love with Frederick Wentworth, was persuaded to call off the engagement because he had zero prospects.
However, eight years later, Anne can’t seem to shake off the feelings she has toward him, not to mention that her own family lost most of their fortune after spending years trying to keep up appearances.
The movie, directed by Carrie Cracknell, has been viciously slammed online and by critics alike, and it isn’t hard to see why.
Persuasion, the novel is complex and full of heart. Persuasion, the movie, on the other hand, is anything but.
For one, Anne is constantly breaking the fourth wall, so it feels as though we’re watching a parody of The Office, rather than an Austen film.
Vox writer Constance Grady summarised the film perfectly, saying: “It’s hard to overstate just how bad Netflix’s Persuasion is, and in how many ways”, adding: “As an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, it’s a disaster”.
Slate’s Dana Stevens also added in her two cents, calling it “not only the worst Austen adaptation but one of the worst movies in recent memory”.
Yikes.
So what was it that caused Persuasion’s ultimate demise? It seems it was Cracknell’s poor attempt at reviving a historical piece of literature while still trying to appeal to the younger generation.
The language stood out like a sore thumb, and if she wanted the characters to say things like, “If you’re a five in London, you’re a 10 in Bath”, then she should have drawn inspiration from the book and had the film take place in the present.
That’s what Amy Heckerling did with Clueless, which is based on Jane Austen’s Emma.
Anyway, while the movie, which has been rated a generous 5.6/10 on IMDb, was painful to watch, it was all worth it after we read people’s reactions on Twitter.
Take a look at some of the best tweets.
jane austen did not die rejecting every single man who ever came into her life for dakota johnson to say “now we’re worse than exes, we’re friends” in netflix's persuasion
— margot robbie is on strike (@loversrespite) July 16, 2022
Yes, she would. #persuasion pic.twitter.com/OdwKTsYnRZ
— Erin MacAlpine (@erinfmac) July 15, 2022
you could not convince me this is a period drama movie let alone a JANE AUSTEN adaptation with this dialogue… #Persuasion pic.twitter.com/r0JXg3Eqcs
— s. (@tedsbecca) July 15, 2022
jane austen crying shaking throwing up in her grave after dakota johnson said “now we’re worse than exes, we’re friends” in persuasion on netflix
— biryani🍉 (@8biryani4lunch) July 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/thesarjane/status/1548057971191517184
netflix really gave us Persuasion and said “here’s dakota johnson doing her worst and annoyingly painful fleabag impression enjoy”
— Rachael (@markruffaloTD) July 15, 2022
Jane Austen did not write persuasion and “Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death.” For y’all to go and use bEcAUSe hEs a tEN pic.twitter.com/4bxW4UJb8G
— Sof 🌸 (@schofiaa) July 15, 2022
if i had been in the writers' room when they were adapting persuasion i would've proposed "there could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison" to be changed to "he's just like me fr"
— lara (@vacantribcage) July 16, 2022
https://twitter.com/gremlita/status/1548300565813215233
Persuasion is available to stream on Netflix.
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