Wow, this romance from Jane Austen is light and fluffy even by her standards. This is probably why Northanger Abbey is the least praised of her works, but even without the substance and complexities of Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility, it is a breezy watch and one I whole heartedly enjoyed.
JJ Feild who looks like a more trust worthy Jude Law stars as Henry Tilney, the man after heroine Catherine's teenage heart. Other men, like his father and the aggressive John Thorpe are after something else from the young lady. One hint, it's green and the root of all evil.
Catherine is, as Austen was in her youth, addicted to trashy gothic romances and sees mystery, ghosts, and intrigue behind every door. It's easy to see how she can get caught up in the fairy tales of haunted mansions when she is invited to Northanger Abbey, a sprawling magnificent castle that is “full of secrets”. ?br/>
The secrets end up being far less romantic and fantastical as she first imagines, but a genuine love between she and Henry does come right out of the pages of the most heart pounding novel.
There's not a whole lot going on here, but everyone is charming, Lismore Castle where they shot Northanger Abbey is stunning, and a little afternoon romance never hurt anybody.
But what do you think?