• Commentary with director Julian Jarrold, writer Kevin Hood and producer Robert Bernstein
• Deleted scenes
• Becoming Jane Pop-Up Facts & Footnotes
• Discovering the Real Jane Austen featurette

Critique:

This story is loosely based on the life of Jane Austen before her writing seeds sprouted and grew. It is not entirely accurate, however, it is quite charming in a real-life sort of way.

Hathaway aptly captures the essence of her character. She is witty, proud, independent and soulful. All the things most people associate with Austen. Even her accent comes off authentic. The actors who portray her family provide a great web of support, all stepping in to their roles quite happily.

James McAvoy deserves special recognition for another outstanding performance. With this role he fervently dives deep into the character and becomes the part as only he can do. Who wouldn't want to be the object of this man's affections! Come on, sigh with me ladies...

The story itself was poignant and passionate. The chemistry between the actors meshed well and the scenery of this world was its own character, mixing seemlessly with the ambiance of the overall production.

The conclusion to this tale adheres more to reality than to Austen's familiar happily-ever-after endings, which makes it all the more heartbreaking with its close. It's like a nice poetic slap in the face to those who can easily identify with the situation or characters in one way or another—but that is also the glue that holds the story together.

The extras on the DVD include traditional cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes and audio commentary, as well as a non-traditional pop-up feature providing tidbits of information throughout the production.

Final Analysis: This is a charming period romance-drama that pulls on the emotional strings, harboring solid acting performances and a tight story progression.

This Reviewer's Rating: 4 / 5