Stolz und Vorurteil & Zombies (2016)

Stolz und Vorurteil u0026 Zombies: Directed by Burr Steers. With Lily James, Sam Riley, Bella Heathcote, Ellie Bamber. Five sisters in 19th century England must cope with the pressures to marry while protecting themselves from a growing population of zombies.

“Greetings again from the darkness. For those high school Literature teachers struggling to get their students to embrace the classics from writers like Jane Austen, this movie wonu0026#39;t help much. However, chances are good that those same students will enjoy this blending of 19th century British class warfare with u0026quot;The Walking Deadu0026quot; – likely one of their favorite shows. The zombie apocalypse has landed in the middle of Austenu0026#39;s prim and proper story, including the repressed attraction between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnyone expecting the serious undertones of Ms. Austenu0026#39;s1813 novel will be disappointed … but the title should have provided a pretty solid hint. While her characters and general story line act as a structure here, itu0026#39;s really based on Seth Grahame-Smithu0026#39;s YA hit novel … delivering zombie battles and often zany humor. Burr Steers (Igby Goes Down) directs his own adapted screenplay and seems to really be having a great time – right along with his talented cast. The sets, costumes, dialogue and fight scenes work together to create an unusual movie experience that will generate plenty of laughs while not dwelling on the zombies or violence (it is PG-13). Expect most critics to destroy this one because itu0026#39;s made simply for fun, not for art.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOf course, any Pride and Prejudice spin-off (even one with zombies) must pay particular attention to Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. It turns out that Elizabeth and her four sisters are highly trained warriors raised to survive against the undead. Itu0026#39;s even clearer for Mr. Darcy as he is billed as a zombie hunter and protector of Mr. Bingley, the rich bachelor hooked on Jane Bennett. Things get muddled by the devious Mr. Wickham, a focused Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and especially the flamboyant fop Parson Collins. The interactions between these characters bounce between loyalty, romantic attraction, emotional turmoil and hand-to-hand combat … with enough comedic elements that most viewers will find plenty of opportunities to laugh.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe talented cast is all in. They play it mostly straight (with one major exception) to achieve the balance between somber and silly. Lily James (u0026quot;Downton Abbeyu0026quot;) and Sam Riley (On the Road, 2012) are both fun to watch as Elizabeth and Darcy. They are the filmu0026#39;s best fighters … both with swords and words. Bella Heathcoate (Dark Shadows, 2012) is u0026quot;the pretty oneu0026quot; Jane, who is wooed by Douglas Booth (Noah, 2014) as Mr. Bingley. Lena Headey (u0026quot;Game of Thronesu0026quot;) makes an impression in her limited screen time as an eye-patched Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and Jack Huston (u0026quot;Boardwalk Empireu0026quot;) is well cast as Wickham. Screen veterans Charles Dance and Sally Phillips take on the role of parents to the five Bennett daughters, but itu0026#39;s Matt Smith (u0026quot;Dr Whou0026quot;), who turns the film on its ear with his unconventional twist on the oddball Parson Collins, who pretty much steals each of his scenes. He had those in the theatre laughing out loud more than a few times.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ePity is the word that comes to mind for any young man who takes these Bennett girls to the prom … or more likely to one of the societal balls. The weapons hidden under their formal gowns offer fair warning to zombies and handsy suitors alike. Itu0026#39;s this element of strong women (physically and emotionally) that might even allow Ms. Austen to appreciate whatu0026#39;s happened to her characters … were she alive to see it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEven though the film offers plenty of fun with laughs and action and romance, letu0026#39;s hope it doesnu0026#39;t kick off a new zombie-adaptation trend. Here are a few titles that we hope never see the big screen: Sense and Sensibilities and Zombies, War and Peace and Zombies, Crime and Punishment and Zombies, The Old Zombie and the Sea, Wuthering Zombies, Romeo and Juliet and Zombies, and Aliceu0026#39;s Adventure in Zombieland.”